The Start day is here!

Wat a sight!

I can't believe how fast today came. It seems like just a couple weeks ago I was asked to participate in this once in a life time event. So far the events leading up to our run today have been amazing.

We had a team gathering at the Australian Consulate's home on Tuesday night. It is a beautiful home in the LA hills with a large backyard for such gatherings. The highlight of the evening was when one of the Australian firefighters spoke about a special helmet he received from a firefighters wife back in Australia. Back in 1998 the woman's husband trained with FDNY station 1 for about a week. On his departure from the training, the FDNY captain gave him a helmet with signatures from all the firefighters from station 1 as a gift. When this woman heard about the Australian firefighter being a part of the Tour Of Duty in a recent newspaper article, she felt compelled to donate it to the Australian runner. As the Australian firefighter read each of the names on the helmet, he soon realized that every one of FDNY firefighters who had signed the helmet back in 1998 perished in the attack on 9-11. But the story didn't end there. The Australian firefighter/runner discovered that one of the names on that helmet was the father of one of the FDNY firefighters who is also running in this event to honor of his fallen firefighter father.

As this story was being told at the Australian Consulate's home in front of the mayor and other local dignatary's (and media), the Australian firefighter unveiled the helmet and presented it to the widow of the fallen officer and her son who heard the story for the first time and were overwhelmed with emotions.

Last night we were invited to Beverly Hills fire station for dinner where we were treated to another amazing story. A very distinguished man began to speak about his brother who was an Eagle Scout as a young man, military pilot and a commercial pilot. From all accounts the brother was an outstanding man. As the story went on, this man went on to tell us that his brother, Charles Burlingame, was the pilot of American Airlines flight 77. This is the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on 9-11. He spoke of how it was later learned that Charles, with his military training, fought off the attackers in the cockpit for over 4 minutes before he was overtaken and murdered - the first victim of the 9-11 attacks. This distinguished man, Burlingame, then explained to all the team members that when he heard of our mission to honor those who gave their lives on 9-11, he was compelled to meet us that night. He then presented us all with a special coin. It was a coin designed and given to all family members who lost loved ones on 9-11. Even though the Pentagon discontinued making these coins, he made a special request, which was granted, to have coins minted for each of the Tour Of Duty runners and he presented those to us individually last night. It was yet another amazing night with I'm sure many more to come.

Paul Ritchie with autographed helmet

 

Helmet presentation

 

TOD team @ Australian consulate function

Rob with Greg Koehler

Aye Aye Captain

It's 4:52am now and I have to get dressed and downstairs soon to head out to the Santa Monica Pier where we start this run at the precise time the first plane struck the Twin Towers - 8:46 am.

Pat, Robert, Joey and Jessica made the trip down yesterday to be here to observe the start of the run. Missy couldn't make it (work obligations). I can't tell you how much that means to me! - I love you guys and couldn't do this without your support.

Hope to see everyone in Vegas if you can make it.