In a special podcast created and produced by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, former New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly analyzes the new security challenges posed by the Paris terror attacks at Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper Cacher market.

With this podcast, the Museum launches its must-hear series titled The Reach of 9/11. Hosted by Clifford Chanin, the podcast focuses on the global struggle against terror. Listen to this episode below.

Click here to listen

Members of FDNY Ladder Company 3, located in Manhattan’s East Village, bravely responded to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Led by decorated Captain Patrick “Paddy” John Brown, Ladder Company 3 asked a dispatcher to deploy its members to the disaster. Eleven of them, many of whom had just gone off duty after finishing their overnight shifts, entered the North Tower.

The rear mount aerial truck was parked on West Street near Vesey Street. When the North Tower collapsed, the truck was damaged beyond repair, with its entire front cab destroyed.

A bumper and back door panel were later removed from the rig and placed on display as a memorial in Ladder Company 3’s quarters on East 13th Street in Manhattan. The inscription "Jeff We Will Not Forget You!" was painted on the panel by a firefighter related to Jeffrey John Giordano, one of the 11 Ladder Company 3 members who perished that day.

By Deena Farrell, 9/11 Memorial Communications Intern

“A Living History: The Stories Behind 9/11 Artifacts” is a three-part series written by oral historian Jenny Pachucki of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and edited by Meghan Walsh, communications associate for the 9/11 Memorial. "Three Ensembles: The Seasons of Ground Zero"  is part 3 of 3 in the series. (All photos by 9/11 Memorial staff)

NYPD officer David Brink recently arrived at the 9/11 Memorial Museum's office with a large suitcase.  From it, he pulled out what he called his "three ensembles," all of which he donated to the museum's collection along with other storytelling artifacts. Each of the three ensembles were articles of clothing that correspond to certain times Brink worked at ground zero for nine months during the recovery period.

A Clear, Blue Sky on 9/11

On September 11, 2001, Brink dressed in light clothing perfect for a beautiful fall day. Brink recalled donning his standard issued emergency services unit response uniform, consisting of sturdy black boots, gun belt, ropes and repelling gear. The uniform was completed with a Scott air pack. While his response uniform was light, his gear weighed about 70 pounds.  “It is mind-blowing to think about the men and women who attempted to climb the stairs of a 110-story building on a hot day, carrying 70 pounds of gear,” said Oral Historian for the 9/11 Memorial Jenny Pachucki.  “It makes sense that they would want their clothing to be a light as possible.”

Among the Protective Gear, a U.S. Flag

Laden with protective gear, Brink sought inspiration in a piece of clothing that wasn't standard issued.  It was the U.S. flag scarf he “grabbed from the hospitality tent.”  He wore it around his neck as a reminder of the swell of patriotism and support he felt while working “on the inside.” A uniform supply stored donated battled tested pants, jackets and first-responder patches to Brink and other workers. He was grateful for the clothing donations because he was able to replace, without any cost to him, NYPD uniforms damage at the site. NYPD officers are required to pay for their own uniforms.

Recovery Work Continues into the Bitter Cold

As fall turned to winter, Brink wore "winter wear" as recovery efforts continued. His heavy overall pants, which were donated to workers at respite centers, were topped by a thick NYPD jacket. The warm clothes were a welcomed reprieve from the face-numbing winds.  “Before we got them, we used to freeze our (expletive) off down there with the wind coming in off the Hudson," Brink said. "We felt like we were Washington’s troops at Valley Forge or something.”  The winter ensemble didn't get dirty as much because there wasn't “as much dirty digging” at that point in the effort.

Three ensembles, Three seasons

Brink's three ensembles share a common theme - attack, rescue and recovery - but each conveys a different story. It's artifacts like these that make an unprecedented event in history tangible and, while still difficult, easier to understand. The clothing aptly represent the "seasons of ground zero" and help close the gap between the people who experienced the aftermath and the people exploring 9/11 history. Many of the future visitors to the memorial museum won't be able to relate to what it was like to work amid rubble in a large pit in the middle of winter. It's authentic artifacts like what Brink donated that help make these experiences visceral for all.

By Jenny Pachucki, Oral Historian for the 9/11 Memorial

"A Living History: The Stories Behind 9/11 Artifacts" is a three-part series written by oral historian Jenny Pachucki of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and edited by Meghan Walsh, communications associate for the 9/11 Memorial. "Symbol Steel" is part 2 of 3 in the series.

He knew how to handle a striker and blow torch. A deft welder, NYPD's David Brink began to forge symbols from remnant steel during his time at ground zero. The emergency services unit officer welded the symbols from large pieces of steel once piled at the southwest corner of the World Trade Center site near Liberty and Church streets.

Recovery efforts slowed at site at that particular time because of major construction activity, which required workers to clear the area.  Brink asked members of an ironworkers union if he could use their equipment, and they consented.  In the nine months he worked at the WTC site, Brink created multiple crosses and one silhouette of the twin towers from the steel. He recently donated the works along with other artifacts to the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Other ironworkers joined Brink in creating shapes from the steel during their spare time, which wasn't often.  They created religious symbols such as a cross or Star of David.  But not all steel had religious symbols. One beam at hangar at JFK Airport, where many of the site’s large artifacts and steel are stored, shows the cutout of the New York City skyline—with the twin towers still in place.

The above photos show the steel beam from which crosses were cut and a cross freed from the steel with a blow torch.

By Jenny Pachucki, Oral Historian of the 9/11 Memorial Museum

 "A Living History: The Stories Behind 9/11 Artifacts" is a three-part series written by oral historian Jenny Pachucki of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and edited by Meghan Walsh, communications associate for the 9/11 Memorial. "Gloves" is part 1 of 3 in the series.

David Brink, a NYPD emergency services unit detective, donated three pairs of gloves to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, each telling a different yet equally powerful story.

One pair - now blackened with soot - was the set he wore on 9/11.  As the 110-story buildings were falling on top of him, he put his gloved hands to his face to protect against suffocating dust.  These gloves reflect what it was like to be trapped in the huge black cloud created by the destruction of the skycrapers.

A second pair that Brink donated tells a very different story.  The set is the heavy work gloves he picked up at the “hospitality tent” during the period of recovery and rescue.  At the tent, workers could take all sorts of goods and supplies that were donated from across the country.  Brink took a pair he thought looked particularly warm.  While working on the wreckage pile, he discovered the words “Thank you!” written in black marker across the palms of the gloves.

He told the museum anytime he was working and discouraged, he'd look down at the writing on his gloves and think “these could be from some kid in Iowa, or some housewife in California who were rooting for us and appreciated us, and it gave me the boost I needed to keep working.”

Jenny Pachucki, Oral Historian for the 9/11 Memorial Museum

"A Living History: The Stories Behind 9/11 Artifacts" is a three-part series written by oral historian Jenny Pachucki of the 9/11 Memorial Museum and edited by Meghan Walsh, a communications associate for the 9/11 Memorial. The following is a preview to the series, which begins Tuesday, July 13.

The collection of artifacts recently spread out on a table before the 9/11 Memorial Museum's curators and exhibitions team stirred their enthusiasm.  They couldn't contain their excitement when, last month, NYPD detective David Brink donated items steeped in the history of the Sept. 11 attacks. Brink responded to the attacks on Sept. 11 and immediately began evacuating civilians to safety. He survived the collapse of both twin towers, narrowly escaping with his life.  Brink worked the duration of the rescue and recovery effort at ground zero, and he saved everything that he possible could that would tell his story. 

“Brink is what we like to call a ‘curator’s dream come true,’” said Jenny Pachucki, oral historian for the 9/11 Memorial Museum. The variety of Brink's donated artifacts will truly help curators tell the story of recovery, survival and lost.

 A couple weeks ago, Brink packed articles and items he saved from 9/11 into a large suitcase and came to the memorial offices in lower Manhattan, where he donated them to the museum's collection. 

Brink’s collection includes World Trade Center steel, NYPD helmets and gear worn on Sept.11, and tools used during rescue and recovery operations at ground zero. Over the next three days, read about these artifacts and Brink on The MEMO blog.

By Jenny Pachucki, Oral Historian for the 9/11 Memorial Museum