In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, actor and retired U.S. Marine Corps Reserve officer Rob Riggle looked back on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks. While serving on the ground in Manhattan, he witnessed a scene he describes as “apocalyptic” and “surreal,” yet he also emphasizes the extraordinary unity and courage of the men and women who responded.
What Riggle Saw at Ground Zero
Riggle recalls walking among firefighters, police officers, military personnel, construction workers and countless volunteers who were clearing debris by hand, using buckets instead of heavy machinery to avoid harming any potential survivors trapped beneath the rubble. “It was so unreal that it was surreal,” he said. “I was looking at skyscrapers that had the front of the building clawed out from the falling of the towers. They had gouged out other buildings. They had knocked other buildings over. They had weakened buildings to such a state that they would collapse.”
He described the Brooks Brothers store across the street as looking like “Godzilla had scratched out the front,” with the façade gutted by falling debris. Burned‑out fire trucks and police cars littered the streets, and paper and ash swirled in the wind, creating a landscape that felt like a ruin of Manhattan.
Prayer and Hope Amid the Chaos
Riggle explained that the rescue teams would pause their work whenever a whistle blew, using the moment to pray for any survivors they might find and for the families of those who had already been lost. “We would pray, we would just put our heads down, and we would hope that it was somebody who was still alive,” he said. When remains were discovered, the responders said a prayer for the departed and asked that their families receive closure.
A Nation United
One of the most striking memories for Riggle was the sense of national unity that emerged in the days after the attacks. He noted that political differences fell away as Americans of all backgrounds worked side by side. “I remember seeing the Senate and the House of Representatives out on the steps of the Capitol singing ‘God Bless America’ together,” he recalled. “Nobody asked any questions, no one looked at each other and judged. Everybody worked, and we were unified in trying to figure out what happened and then figuring out a way to help.”
Riggle emphasizes that the focus should remain on the heroes—firefighters, police officers, EMTs, Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guard members—who risked their lives to protect others. “For every one terrorist, there were literally thousands of people out there trying to do the right thing,” he said.
Lessons for the Future
When asked what “never forget” means to him, Riggle says it is a reminder to honor the innocent lives lost and to stay vigilant against those who would do harm. “We have to be vigilant always. We can never just take a break,” he warned. He also stresses the importance of remembering the uniformed men and women who continue to safeguard the nation, ensuring that tragedies like 9/11 are not repeated.
Riggle’s reflections serve as a powerful reminder that, even in the darkest moments, the American spirit of faith, family, and liberty can shine through, binding the nation together in hope and perseverance.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
