It is almost a cliche that firefighters run into burning buildings as others are running out. Usually, this is meant in the sense of a fire in an occupied dwelling, such as a two-family house or a condominium. Perhaps less than a dozen firefighters will enter the structure as the residents leave. It is so rare that a conflagration will break out in a high rise or large hotel or theater, with hundreds fleeing as scores of firefighters race to save lives and property. Events like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York [1911], the Coconut Grove fire in Boston [1943], and the Great Chicago Fire [1871] come to mind.

The events of September 11th, 2001 remain forever etched in minds of all Americans. The immense footprint of mass media combined with the seemingly endless hours of video footage, together with the fact that almost everyone in America knows someone who knew someone in New York that day means the catastrophe touched us all in a way that disasters like the sinking of the Titanic or the San Francisco earthquake could not previous generations.

One particular image that many of us will never shake is that of thousands of New Yorkers fleeing the dust and debris following the collapse of the two towers of the World Trade Center. It was surreal, as if CNN and Fox News [and ESPN, and the Home Shopping Network and each of the 68 basic cable channels] had broadcast throngs of Hollywood extras making their escape from a B-movie monster.

As the multitudes fled [understandably and justifiably], the brave men and women of the Fire Department of New York dove headlong into the disaster. 343 active and three retired firefighters lost their lives on September 11, 2001. What type of individual rushes in towards unimaginable danger?

Ronnie Lee Henderson did. He was a spiritual man, active in the Church of God by Faith in Newburgh, New York. He was also a man of unquestionable character, having served as a Marine in both Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. A man of responsibility, Henderson helped raise his five younger siblings, in addition to his own four children. Described by his wife as “a man of action,” Henderson handed out applications to young African-Americans when he felt that blacks were under-represented within the FDNY.

Assigned to Engine 279 in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, Ronnie Lee Henderson headed into Tower 1 five years ago today. He was 52 years old, and left behind a wife of twenty years, four children, and a nation that still stands in awe of the sacrifice of the nearly three-hundred fifty heroes of the FDNY that perished with him.

Information culled from:
-- An obituary from NY Newsday. [more here]
-- Portrait of Grief from the NY Times. [more here]

2,996:
This post is part of the 2,996 project.
Tribute pages for other members of Ladder 131, Engine 279:
-- Firefighter Anthony Rodriguez; another tribute here.
-- Firefighter Michael Paul Ragusa
-- Firefighter Christian Michael Otto Regenhard [tribute not yet posted as of Sept 10th]

Friends of the Family:
-- Lt. John F. Ginley, Jr.
-- Lt. Andrew Fredericks
My thoughts on Andy from one year ago.
-- Firefighter "Charlie" Anaya
-- Jeffrey Palazzo was a friend of my brother; they served in the Coast Guard together. He was assigned to FDNY's Rescue 5. [tribute not yet posted as of Sept 11th]

Rick Rescorla
-- Never Yet Melted will post a tribute for Rick Rescola, who should be a household name. Here's why.

Some related links:
-- Tribute page for Ladder 131, Engine 279. Click around and you'll find photos of the damage to Engine 279, as well as a tribute to Firefighter Regenhard. [via Ten House's link page]
-- Memorial to Squad 18, where Lt. Andy Fredericks was assigned.
-- History of the Maltese Cross.