September 26, 2001

ON THE HEROISM OF FIRE FIGHTERS IN THE FACE OF UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY

In these somber days following the harrowing events and national calamity of Sept. 11, it's more than apparent that tragedy can bring forth heroic qualities in citizens who most likely never dreamed of being called heroes.

From the passengers who, it seems, courageously foiled part of the terrorist plot by bringing down one of the hijacked planes in a field in Pennsylvania to workers in the World Trade Center who delayed their own escape in order to help struggling comrades, it's startling -- and deeply moving -- to realize how many "ordinary" people are willing to lay down their lives out of a concern for the safety of others.

The International Association of Fire Fighters has been an MDA national sponsor since the 1950s.

And yet there are some individuals who, from the perspective of most Americans and certainly all of us at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, have always been heroes -- but who now must assume an even higher place in our estimation. I'm speaking of fire fighters, who for 50 years through their esteemed organization, the International Association of Fire Fighters, have spearheaded a phenomenal fund-raising effort to support MDA's program in research and health care services, to the tune of many millions of dollars.

On our 2001 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, which aired nine days before the terrorist assault, MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis spoke eloquently, as he has before, of the love and admiration he has felt since his childhood for fire fighters, and of his continuing gratitude for their unparalleled devotion to MDA's cause. Jerry shared a message of hope and affection with his friend IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who vowed to stay at MDA's side until the fight against neuromuscular diseases is won.

In the weeks following the tragedy, Jerry and all of us at MDA share in the nation's grief over the loss of hundreds of fire fighter lives. As one of our staff most suitably put it in an e-mail to IAFF representatives, "A loss in your family is a loss in our family."

To help me deal with my own feelings of loss, and to help express MDA's eternal regard for fire fighters across the nation, I turned to a young boy who made quite an impression on viewers of Telethon 2001, 11-year-old Mattie Stepanek.

This uniquely sensitive and precociously talented youngster has mitochondrial myopathy, the same muscle-wasting disease which affects his mother and which took the lives of three of his siblings. Mattie joined Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon and Harold Schaitberger via a live satellite linkup from Baltimore. Mattie inspired everyone by reading some of his remarkable poetry, including a work titled "On Being a Champion."

Like Jerry, Mattie has a special regard for fire fighters and has formed a deep friendship with Harold Schaitberger. On the day of the most terrible events in American history, Mattie composed the following poem, which he has given me permission to reproduce:

9-11... 2001 It was a dark day in America. There was no amazing grace. Freedom did not ring. Tragedy attacked sky-high. Fiery terror reigned. Structures collapsed. Red with blood, white with ash, And out-of-the-sky blue. As children trust elders, Citizens find faith in leaders. But they were all blinded, Shocked by the blasts. Undefiable outrage. Undeniable outpouring Of support, even prayer, Or at least, moments of silence. Church and State Could not be separated. A horrific blasting of events With too few happy endings. Can the children sleep Safely in their beds tonight? Can the citizens ever rest Assured of national security again? God, please, bless America... And the rest of our earthly home. Mattie Stepanek Sept. 11, 2001

Mattie Stepanek, 11, has mitochondrial myopathy and has published his first book of poems, "Heartsongs."

Mattie expressed himself further in this heartfelt letter written a week after the attack:

Dear Fire Fighters and other supporters of the Muscular Dystrophy Association:

One week ago, a terrible tragedy happened in this country. We were attacked by terrorists. Thousands of lives were lost. Innocent people died. Children and adults. Military people and civilians. Cleaning crews and business leaders. Mommies and daddies and spouses and neighbors and friends and many more. And so very sadly, hundreds of fire fighters who rushed bravely to try and help save the innocent people who may still have a chance to survive.

Hundreds and hundreds of fire fighters went in again and again to do anything they could to help save as many lives as possible. They must have been afraid that the buildings could fall on them. Some of the largest airplanes had crashed into some of the largest buildings and caused one of the hottest fires imaginable. But they were true heroes. Even in the smoke of the fires, we could see clearly why the USA is called the home of the brave -- look at all the members of the New York Fire Department who put their duty and other peoples' lives first.

I am especially sad because just a day and a half before this horrible event, my mom and I spent a wonderful weekend with hundreds of fire fighters who played softball for three days to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and "Jerry's kids." One of the NYFD teams came in second place for the whole tournament. At the closing ceremonies, a player from that team handed me his trophy. I touch that trophy now, praying for all of the lost lives, remembering the generosity and bravery of the fire fighters, and wondering… is the player who handed me his trophy one of the hundreds of fire fighters who are still missing?

Now, we must go on. My philosophy in life has always been: "Remember to play after every storm." That's not always easy to do, but it is the only way life can survive. But, as life goes on, I have a prayer and a wish. My prayer and my wish are that these thousands of people and hundreds of fire fighters have not died without a lesson for our country. My prayer and my wish are that we place meaning in this great loss. My prayer and my wish are that we always remember how our country suddenly united after a tragedy, and how we all reached out to pray and help and be with our neighbors. As we go on and live and play, as we must, please let us all remember our response to this loss, and let us take that unity with us into the future.

With love and respect and appreciation,

Mattie Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek
Upper Marlboro, Maryland

All of us at MDA are grateful to Mattie for putting into words the anguish we feel right now on behalf of fire fighter families -- and the hope we hold in our hearts for a future in which love and courage will prevail over hatred and destruction.

MDA staff in offices across the country have shown how they care about MDA's heroes by sending in checks in support of fire fighters to MDA's national headquarters, from whence they will be conveyed en masse to authorities at the IAFF. You can do the same. Make your check payable to the "New York Fire Fighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund" and please send it to my attention at MDA, 3300 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson, Ariz. 85718. Your contributions will be forwarded to the IAFF to help the families of the fallen fire fighters and EMS personnel in New York City.

With every best wish…

The Ross Report Archive