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American Morning

Fireman's Friend

Aired September 09, 2002 - 08:53   ET

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

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Three-hundred and forty-three New York City firefighters died at ground zero last September 11th, and as you might expect the day after tomorrow will be a particularly difficult day for their families.
As Michael Okwu tells us now, there's a man they can turn to for help.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Father Chris Keenan is sure September 11th will not be easy for New York's firefighters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because they know it's just opening everything all up again.

OKWU: He should know. For the past 298 days, when he received his chaplain shield, he's been there, in the long robe of a Franciscan friar, on call around the clock for New York's bravest. He succeeds a local icon, Father Mychal Judge, killed on 9-11 while serving last rights to the severely injured.

Most of America remembers this image: the chaplain's corpse cradled by a civilian and emergency worker, police and firefighters, representatives of the lives he touched, the man who convinced Keenan to join the priesthood 39 years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was, for me, as for all of us in life, who had those mentors along the way, who believed in us more than we believed in ourselves.

OKWU: Some have even speculated about judge's possible sainthood, big sandals to fill.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He really didn't die as a hero. He really is a hero because of the way he lived.

OKWU: Under Judge's shadow, Father Chris does the same. Both men served the fire department while also ministering at St. Francis of Eseze (ph). He counsels the 343 families of firefighters who died, and provides support for the thousands who must brave on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think one of the ongoing challenges is that because we cannot comprehend a lot of what has happened yet, then we can't process it either.

What the firefighters ask of me is simply to be there, to be present with them.

OKWU: To be present in a year where he survived a cancer operation, spent weeks digging at ground zero, consoling, and then inspiring the troops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't think I had any more tears that I could ever cry. You know, one of the haunting images has been the children, you know, peering out, you know, and longing for their fathers.

OKWU: As chaplain, Father Chris is there to provide the good that can come with suffering.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It certainly has scarred my soul. A grief beyond all grief imaginable. And yet, the gift of our presence to one another and what that really means is the greatest gift that any of us can offer.

OKWU: Michael Okwu, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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