Father, Sons Return to Ground Zero for Recovery Ceremony

Jon, Joe and Joe Bradley Jr. visit the 9/11 Memorial Museum for a recovery worker event.
Jon, Joe, and Joe Bradley Jr. at 9/11 Memorial Museum Recovery Worker Event (Photo: Jin Lee)

A father and his two sons, all of whom took part in the 9/11 rescue and recovery effort, returned together to the World Trade Center site on May 28, 2015 to attend a special ceremony held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum to mark the 13th anniversary of the end of the nine-month recovery effort.

Joe Bradley Sr., a longtime Local 15 operating engineer, took part in constructing the original World Trade Center. Following 9/11, Bradley worked on Ground Zero with his two sons, Joe Bradley Jr. and Jon Bradley, both also with Local 15.   

 

“People don’t realize what a family effort it was down there; fathers and sons working next to each other, moving that debris, searching the pile together,” Joe Bradley said.  

In May, 2002, Joe Bradley summarized the spirit of the recovery effort when he told the New York Times, “We came in as individuals. And we will walk out together.” His quote is on display in the Museum at Foundation Hall.

Joe Jr. and Jon Bradley had mixed feelings about returning to the World Trade Center site, but decided to return with their father for the ceremony. It was the first time both sons got to see their father’s words displayed in the Museum.

 

“Last time we were all down here together, we were running the machines,” Jon recalled.  

By Jenny Pachucki, Content Strategist

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