It’s been 19 years since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, and people across the country are keeping their promise to never forget that day.
Videos by InspireMore
Today, we honor the 2,977 people who lost their lives, along with the firefighters and first responders who risked their own safety to protect others. Among these heroes is someone who is better known for his on-screen work but who is also deeply appreciated for his bravery!
Before actor Steve Buscemi became a household name, he was fighting fires in New York City. In fact, he served with Engine Company 55 in Manhattan’s Little Italy for four years in the 1980s!
Buscemi was already well into his acting career when the terrorist attacks took place in 2001, but as the saying goes, “Once a firefighter, always a firefighter.”
The following day, he returned to Engine 55, putting in exhausting 12-hour shifts to search for survivors at Ground Zero.
“Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them,” the Brotherhood of Fire wrote on Facebook. “He wasn’t there for the publicity.”
And his service didn’t end there! In the years since, he has continued to support his fellow firefighters however he can.
“In 2003 he also gave a speech at a union rally supporting higher wages for firefighters and to stop firehouses from closing,” the post continued. “In 2012 Brother Buscemi showed up in Breezy Point, NY, and quietly assisted in the cleanup efforts of the damage and mass destruction left by Super Storm Sandy.”
These days, the 62-year-old is proud to work with Friends of Firefighters, an organization that provides free mental health services to firefighters and their families.
This year, he’s challenging every American to celebrate the National Day of Service and Remembrance, or 9/11 Day, with a good deed!
Thank you, Buscemi, for showing us what it means to be a hero in and out of the spotlight. Your selfless actions will never be forgotten, and neither will the courage of everyone who served beside you!
Share this story in honor of all the brave firefighters who put their lives on the line 19 years ago – and those who are still doing so today.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
