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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Recovers: Company That Lost 15 Firefighters Has Become a Memorial

Aired October 11, 2001 - 07:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Many relatives of the World Trade Center victims have seen their lives and their hope fade in the past month.

And CNN's Elizabeth Cohen, who was there in Manhattan in the desperate days for the search where so many family members across the city were looking for their lost loved ones. She's with us this morning from a firehouse in midtown Manhattan -- Elizabeth, good morning.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, I'm here Engine 54, Ladder 4 on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. October 11 is an especially poignant day here because this company lost 15 men and I would like to take the event of this anniversary to read those names individually. They're the up here over my shoulder.

This company lost Al Feinberg, Dave Wooley, Jose Guadeloupe (ph), Ed Garrity (ph), Chris Santora, Joe Angelini, John Tipping, Carl Lasoro (ph), Len Regalia (ph), Dan O'Callahan, Mike Haub, Mike Brennan, Mike Lynch, Paul Gill (ph), Sam Otise (ph).

And this firehouse has become, like many of the firehouses around the city, an impromptu memorial where people have come, have left flowers, have left memorials of all kinds. For example, here's a book that people can sign. People have come from all over. Children especially have written memorials to the firefighters.

There's one here that I thought was so sweet and so touching. It says, "I live in Utah. We hope New York City is OK. You are so cool. Sincerely, Braydon (ph)."

Here's another one, "God bless you. I love America. Thank you, dear fireperson."

Here's one that's written in Hebrew from a child. It says, "We're here for you." And the Israeli flag and the American flag.

Another one here says, "God bless America."

It goes on and on. There are flowers from other fire companies. This, I thought, also touched me. "Let us remember and never forget what hate looks like. The world is too small for anything but love." I was here a month ago, just after September 11, talking to families, including families of firefighters. And at that time they had so much hope. They had so much hope that their relatives were going to be found.

I've gotten back in touch with them a month later. That hope has disappeared but instead it's turned into a hope that these lives may have been lost not in vain but for some purpose, to hopefully stamp out terrorism -- Bill.

HEMMER: Elizabeth Cohen, Martin Savidge, many thanks.

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