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On my 16th birthday, my dad gave me a red bandanna.
He told me the story of a man named Welles Crowther who was on the 76th floor of the World Trade Center when the planes hit on 9/11.
Rather than running down, he ran up.
He told me the story of a man named Welles Crowther who was on the 76th floor of the World Trade Center when the planes hit on 9/11.
Rather than running down, he ran up.
Welles found survivors on the 78th floor, put the most injured woman on his back, and led the rest down the stairs to safety.
After they were safe, he did this again. And again. And again.
After they were safe, he did this again. And again. And again.
In the days after 9/11, survivors kept talking about "the man in the red bandana" who saved them.
More than 18 survivors told first responders about this man who saved them, but no one knew who he was.
More than 18 survivors told first responders about this man who saved them, but no one knew who he was.
As the NYT began to publish some of these stories, Welles' family found them and knew that this was him.
He'd always carried his dad's red handkerchief with him, and he had just called his dad 6 months before 9/11 saying he wanted to quit his job in finance and join FDNY.
He'd always carried his dad's red handkerchief with him, and he had just called his dad 6 months before 9/11 saying he wanted to quit his job in finance and join FDNY.
His family ended up reuniting with the survivors he saved, and confirming it was Welles from photographs.
More than a year after 9/11, Welles body was found at Ground Zero.
When the tower collapsed, he was huddled with FDNY firefighters at a makeshift command post in the lobby.
More than a year after 9/11, Welles body was found at Ground Zero.
When the tower collapsed, he was huddled with FDNY firefighters at a makeshift command post in the lobby.
If you visit the 9/11 memorial, there's always a red bandanna at Welles name.
Every time I'm in NYC, I stop by and think about his story — about the type of human who runs up when everyone else is running down.
Every time I'm in NYC, I stop by and think about his story — about the type of human who runs up when everyone else is running down.
