GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Students at Franklin Middle School got a firsthand account Tuesday of what it was like to be a New York City firefighter on September 11th, 2001.
Retired FDNY firefighter Ron Parker spoke to more than 600 students, sharing his experiences from the day that claimed the lives of 343 firefighters — including many of his friends.
“There’s not a day that goes by that all of a sudden something from one of them clicks,” Parker said. “You feel like you adopted a hundred kids, and some of them are firefighters. It’s great to see.”
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Parker told students he hopes the next generation understands both the sacrifices made and the challenges first responders faced.
“They are our future, and I strongly believe they can take this mixed up world and unravel it,” Parker said. “Look at what they’re inheriting — all kinds of crazy stuff.”…