Remembering Lt. Ray Murphy, FDNY
The man that I always remember from 9/11 was Lt. Raymond Murphy, Ladder 16, Fire Department of the City of New York.
Lt. Murphy was 46 on the morning of September 11th, a twenty year veteran of the FDNY. He had been a lieutenant since 2000.
On the morning of September 11th, he had just come off duty, yet found a way into the city to try and help those at the World Trade Center. When the first tower collasped, he gathered his bearings along with two other firefighters and headed itno the south tower. The photograph of him heading towards the south tower was taken by firefighter Richard Rattazzi, who survived.
He was seen pulling a woman out of the south tower just before its collapse, which killed Lt. Murphy.
He was buried in Throgs Neck, New York on October 5th, 2001.
The famous picture of Lt. Murphy heading back into the south tower after the first tower had collapsed adorns my desk to this today – to remind me to never forget.
His niece has a wonderful tribute posted online to her uncle.
