His photograph standing with President George W. Bush (see below) on the ruins of the World Trade Center is one that is ingrained in our consciousness. But who was he? And why was he chosen to stand with President Bush? Everyone knows the picture, but few know his story.
The man was Bob Beckwith. He was born in New York City in 1932. At age 32, he joined the New York City Fire Department. He retired 30 years later in 1994.
It was seven years after his retirement that he appeared in that famous photograph. But why was he there when he had retired? On the morning of 09/11/2001, his grandson had been struck by a car as he was bicycling to school. Bob had taken his grandson to the hospital for treatment.
On the way to the hospital, planes had struck the World Trade Center (WTC). Once Bob was assured that his grandson would be ok, he decided to go to the WTC. He found his old firefighting clothes and equipment and arrived at the scene. Although there were restrictions on who could pass through the barricade, Bob was allowed to enter. He began to pitch in to help in any way he could.
On September 14, Bob and others began to uncover a fire engine that was buried in the rubble. The fire engine was stable enough to provide a platform for President Bush to speak to the many first responders at the site.
A Secret Service agent asked Bob to help pull the President up on the platform. Once the President was situated, Bob handed him a megaphone. He was told to stand down by the Secret Service, but the President insisted that he remain standing where he was.
That photograph and the President’s memorable line: “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon” will be remembered forever by those who were living in 2001.
Bob didn’t want the fame that came with the photograph. He refused most public appearances. One year later in a White House ceremony, Bob presented to President Bush the bullhorn he used that day.
Bob died in 2024 from cancer which was the result of his time spent at the WTC. Upon his death, he donated his clothes and helmet to the 9/11 Memorial.
While a picture is said to be worth 1,000 words, there are times when a picture alone cannot do justice to the true story behind the picture. This is one of those times. No one seeing that picture alone will know how much of a hero Bob Beckwith was. He wasn’t just a prop for a photoshoot. He was at the WTC because he cared.
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“I’m glad we got him. He’s burning in hell, and he’s going to rot there.” – Bob Beckwith upon learning of the killing of Osama Bin Laden