Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Editor-In-Chief
It has been almost 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, but the gaping wounds of tragedy from that fateful day still strike as deep as if they had just happened.
While no current students were alive from the catastrophe, we remain keenly aware of the precious lives lost as well as the important sacrifices made to save them.
However, if tragedy breeds one thing, it is the courage and resilience to stand up against it. Such was the case of many heroic individuals and first responders who risked their lives to save others when all hope was lost.
One of the most inspiring examples of this selfless bravery came in the form of the actions of New York’s Welles Remy Crowther –“The Man In The Red Bandana”.
Welles was a 24-year-old college graduate who worked as a trader in the World Trade Center as well as a volunteer firefighter. Having grown up as a junior firefighter and sports captain in his hometown of Nyack, New York, he was no stranger to being a leader and, most importantly, helping others.
When he was 6, Welles was given a red bandana to wear from his father as a symbolic item of their connection with one another. From that point on, he wore it at every game, date, and important moment in his life. During the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Crowther was working in the south tower when the second plane hit. Fortunately, he found the last functional staircase in the building, but this is where Welles made the ultimate decision. Despite the building being on the verge of collapse and death staring him right in the face, he went to find other survivors in the building.
He tended to the injured where he could, and guided several people to the staircase where they would be rescued by firefighters. But it did not end there. Instead of leaving with the people he and just saved, he went back. And again, and again, and again he kept going back, saving more and more people. Eventually, he saved over 18 lives getting people to safety at the risk of his own.
Unfortunately, Welles’ heroism would end in tragedy as he and several other first responders were crushed by the collapsing tower in the lobby of the south tower.
Still, even in his death, Welles managed to inspire a whole nation of people still mourning in despair. His bravery not only saved lives, but it also gave hope to Americans that people can and will choose to do good when lives are in jeopardy.
Today, Wells is still honored by his community, family, and the nation as one of the many unsung heroes of one of the most impactful days in American History. His red bandana is worn as a tribute at his high school, and is further honored through Boston College’s red bandana run.
Stories like his remind us of the bravery of the human spirit, but also the tragedy of human sacrifice. It calls us to take action to prevent these circumstances from happening in the first place, and his story will continue to resonate with us no matter who we may be or where we may come from. We will never let go, we will never back down, and most importantly, we will never forget the sacrifice of each and every soul who died for their nation on 9/11 –especially not the valiant actions of the man in the red bandana.