REMEMBERING SCOTT A LARSEN
WORLD TRADE CENTER 9/11
Scott was 35 years old, and a firefighter from a firehouse near the South Street Seaport, Ladder 15(Rotation) and Ladder 163(assigned). On 9/11 he and 13 other firefighters assigned to that house died. This is to pay tribute to a wonderful man.
He was a Husband, Father and a dear friend. Everyone liked him, he was easy to get along with. He loved Disney World.
When Scott A. Larsen finished a shift at the firehouse — "He was very good with the tools; he fit right into the place," said Brian Cleary, his friend from Ladder Company 163 — off he'd go in pursuit of more activity, usually with his three children. He outfitted them with Rollerblades, and got them onto their bicycles on summer days. He could spend an entire day at the beach, then fix dinner on the grill. During the midwinter school break, he packed everyone into the car and drove from their home in Glendale, Queens, to Disney World, stopping to spend the night in North Carolina, to buy sparklers in South Carolina, to sample as many Dairy Queens as possible below the Mason-Dixon line.
It meant 12 hours of driving at a stretch, but he loved it. On arrival, Firefighter Larsen, who was 35, headed for Space Mountain, where he usually rode solo. "He'd try to convince the kids to go on it," said his wife, Carolann. "Once he bribed them with a stuffed animal. They came off scared like anything."
His wife, Carolann was pregnant at the time of 9/11. Two days later September 13 she gave birth to another son. She named him "August" after her husband's father, the name Scott wanted. The other children are Marisa, 9; Brenda, 8; and Scott, 5.
Here is one of the entries of his guest book to his family:
December 26, 2001
We thank Scott for dedicating his life to helping others as a firefighter. Such dedication comes with a heart full of warmth, caring and love for his fellow man. May his courage, kindness, life and love live on through those who love him and those who have been touched by his life. We are deeply sorry for your loss of Scott. Our hearts cry with you.
America Cries
We see your sorrow-
and our hearts cry....
We can not erase your pain
but you do not have to face the anguish alone-for we-
-the American people-
are beside you.
We so desperately want to have the touch that brings you comfort,
the strength that gives you courage,
and the words to lighten your spirits.
And when we are left speechless
may the silence of our nation weave love into your hearts
to ease your sorrow.
May you find healing through our nation's strength as we-
-the American people-
face this difficult time together. Our hearts are with you.
Teresa Jahn (Dixon, IL )
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There is also a Fireman's Prayer I would like to share with you:
A Fire Fighter's Prayer
When I'm called to duty, God
wherever flames may rage.
Grant me the strength to save a life
whatever be its age.
Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late.
Or save an older person
from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout.
And quickly and efficiently
put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling, Lord
and give the best in me.
To guard my every neighbor and
protect his property.
And if according to your will
I am to lose my life.
God bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.
~Author Unknown~
This article is about a Firetruck that is being redone in honor of our fallen firefighters.
Restored Fire Truck Honors Firefighter Who Started It
By Amanda Farinacci
The appropriately named Engine 911, which was unveiled at the South Street Seaport Sunday, is a restored 1962 Ford F-600 fire truck that started with the dream of fallen firefighter Eric Olsen.
Olsen is one of fourteen firefighters from Engine 4, Ladder 15 who died in the World Trade Center attack. A self-proclaimed car buff, Olsen purchased the then badly beat-up truck, and planned to use it while working his side-jobs.
“He would park the truck in the parking lot,” recalled fellow firefighter Steve Fucile, “and there's a homeless guy who's probably been across the street as long as I’ve been in this firehouse, and he started using this as his house. So every morning Eric would go across the street, start the truck, wake him up. He'd take his stuff out, and Eric would go to work. And this was just an ongoing thing. If he thinks he's sleeping in this thing now, the rent's gone up.”
In a restoration project that began in October 2002, firefighters from the Milford Township Fire Department in Pennsylvania took on the task of fixing up the truck. They added new compartments, welded new steel and painstakingly hand-painted every word on the old rig.
On the back is a bell of remembrance in honor of the six fallen firefighters who were members of the FDNY Viking Society. The truck is meant to educate about fire safety and to tell the story of the September 11 attacks.
“Time is passing so quickly and people are forgetting,” said Larry Roeder, one of the Milford firefighters. “And it's important to put together tributes like this and bring them back in time to give people a reason to remember, to give people a reason not to forget.”
“It's a really great thing that they did,” said Carolann Larsen, whose husband died in the attacks. “It's a nice remembrance for all of them to have their names on it; i think it's great.
The truck will make its temporary home at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, with the hope that it will one day go on display at the Fire Safety Museum.
