Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday honoured a New York firefighter who learnt to walk again after severe burns, then died responding to the September 11 attacks.
He said the ultimate victory over the attackers lay in the families who carried on.
Speaking at the Pentagon on the attacks’ 25th anniversary, Trump paid tribute to Timmy Stackpole and his widow, Tara, who raised their five children after his death.
“We also know that the final response to those atrocities and the ultimate victory over the perpetrators will not be found on a foreign battlefield,” the US President said.
He added that victory was “right here in the hearts of families like Tara Stackpole’s”.
Stackpole suffered burns to 40 per cent of his body in a five-alarm fire in Brooklyn in 1998, Trump said.
He spent three years recovering and learnt to walk again before returning to the job.
Trump said Stackpole believed “the greatest high you can ever get in life is by helping someone and making a difference”.
On the morning of the 9/11 attacks, a newspaper carried a story about his promotion to captain in the New York City Fire Department, Trump recalled.
“Stackpole said goodbye to Tara and their children that morning. When the planes struck, he led a team into the burning South Tower of the World Trade Centre. They died when the towers fell,” the US President said.
“Tara went on to support both her children and grieving members of the fire department. She raised the children to know their father and follow his example,” Trump added.
“Their son Kevin is a Navy veteran who served in Iraq. TJ became a Marine captain after graduating from the US Naval Academy. Brendan joined his father’s former unit, Rescue 2, in the New York City Fire Department,” the US President said.
“Kevin is now raising four children of his own. Another son, Brian, is raising two,” Trump added.
“The next generation also carries his name. Daughter Caitlin is raising three children, including a 10-year-old named Timmy,” the US President said.
Trump asked members of the family attending the ceremony to stand.
He said Americans could choose to build families like theirs.
“We can raise our children to know that their country is good, that their fathers are brave, and that our flag is a symbol of justice and freedom,” the US President added.
The September 11, 2001, attacks killed 2,977 people. This included 184 at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77 that hit the US defense headquarters. Two hijacked planes struck New York’s World Trade Centre.
The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers. All 40 passengers and crew died.
(IANS)
