Ronald T. Kerwin -- 9/11 Hero

This post is part of “The 2,996 Project: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11” -- a tribute by the blogosphere to each victim of 9/11, organized by D.C. Roe, with each tribute created by a different blogger.  

Ronald T. Kerwin, from Levittown, New York, was 42 years old.  He was taken from his wife Diane and three young children, Ryan, Keith and Colleen.  This picture seems to capture his warmth as a father and a husband:

In the next picture he looks a little different -- more serious, more formal, ready to do a difficult job:

Ronald T. Kerwin was a member of Squad 288 of the New York Fire Department -- a 20-year veteran.  He had also been Chief of the Levittown Volunteer Fire Department. 

He was not at the World Trade Center when either of the towers was hit.  As usual, early that morning, he was at his station -- ready, as usual, to risk his life to save others.  He got to the World Trade Center while others were exiting the buildings, or running uptown, or watching on TV.

Here is what Scott Jenkins, a member of the Levittown Fire Department, wrote shortly after Ronald’s death.  It is entitled “To My Chief:”

As most of us stopped, to see the fire in the sky, you were in the trucks, passing us by.  As the unthinkable horror makes us shed a tear, you entered the building, in your rescue gear.  As we sat in panic, praying for no more, you were climbing the stairs, floor by floor. 

We sat confused, awed, and in strife; you were looking, hoping and praying for life.  As the building came down, we feared you would too.  But God gave you wings, and instead you flew by.

We laid you to rest yesterday.  The book is now closed.  You are in a better place, where us fire fighters call the ultimate sacrifice, and the gates are gold.  Say hello to our brothers, our fallen friends.  We all miss you and love you, and we will meet again.  You have answered your final alarm.  God Bless You and keep you by His side.

It seems wrong to call those who died on 9/11 “victims.”  Many, like Ronald Kerwin, were heroes, exhibiting courage and commitment we can barely comprehend.  All were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends -- each an entire world -- working hard that day to support themselves and others. 

May their memory be a blessing to their families, and may we who did not know them -- but who do now -- recognize we owe them more than mere remembrance.  We owe them the honor of translating their examples into our own lives, and the commitment to confront the evil, still unleashed in the world, that took their lives.

Comments

[Oceanguy]

This 2996 project is just amazing... I wish I had time to read them all.

[Smooth]

A moving tribute, RR, thank you for sharing Ronald with us. May he rest in peace.

[Brother Mel]

The Book of Proverbs says, "The memory of the righteous is a blessing."

The Gospels say, "No greater love has any man but that he should lay down his life for his friends."

What a blessing to read of Ronald Kerwin's heroic deeds.

Kind Regards,
Brother Mel

[jennifer]

i am a friend of his son keith and i will never forget what happened