When President Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late Welles Crowther, his mother, Alison Crowther, turned the spotlight on the volunteer firehouse that forged his courage. The Empire Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 in Upper Nyack, New York, has long been a cornerstone of community service, and its president, David “Trevor” Gottlieb, explained how the firehouse’s traditions shaped Crowther’s heroic actions on September 11, 2001.
Training that saved lives
Gottlieb recalled that Crowther joined the company in 1993, five years after Gottlieb himself began volunteering. “I was still away in college, but when I returned I worked side‑by‑side with Welles,” he said. “Volunteer fire service is usually multi‑generational, and Welles’ father, Jefferson, was an ex‑captain and treasurer. The kid’s been coming down here since he could walk.”
The firehouse’s emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and community pride, Gottlieb argued, gave Crowther the instincts that later guided him through the chaos of the World Trade Center towers. “When you’re faced with 108 floors of destruction, you rely on your training and how you were brought up,” he said. “That makes your job much easier.”
Heroic actions on 9/11
On that fateful Tuesday, Crowther was working as a stockbroker in the South Tower, carrying a red bandana in his wallet as a personal reminder. When the towers were struck, he immediately sprang into action, helping at least eighteen civilians escape the burning building before losing his own life.
Gottlieb praised Crowther’s selflessness, noting that the young man’s willingness to help transcended any political or religious label. “They didn’t ask if you’re a Republican, a Democrat, a Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic – you’re somebody who needs help,” he said. “The human spirit needs to continue that way. We have to focus on what brings us together, not what divides us.”
Volunteer fire service under pressure
Gottlieb warned that volunteer fire departments across the country are facing staffing shortages. “Everyone’s too busy to volunteer,” he said, urging residents to consider joining their local fire service. “You get to drive fire trucks, work with cool tools, and you make your community safer.”
He also honored two other Empire members, Harry Wanamaker Jr. and Joe Stach Jr., who later died from illnesses linked to 9/11 exposure, underscoring the lasting impact of that day on first‑responders and their families.
Why the story matters locally
Upper Nyack’s firehouse exemplifies the kind of multi‑generational, faith‑rooted community that the HyperLocal Loop champions. By highlighting the values of sacrifice, service, and unity, the story reinforces the importance of local volunteer organizations in preserving safety and moral character for families across New York State.
As the nation continues to remember the heroes of September 11, the example set by Welles Crowther and the volunteers at Empire Hook & Ladder Company reminds us that ordinary citizens, grounded in faith and family, can rise to extraordinary challenges.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
