Soho FDNY Ladder20.com April 25, 2008 Somewhere in Afghanistan: Ladder 5 Engine 24 had a typo on their Batallion T-Shirts. (One "L" was missing) They sent the t-shirts over to CSM Allan Jellum in Afghanistan. Allan writes: Your jerseys brought us luck! Although we lost in soccer (11-3), we did win in volleyball (5 games to 2) - the first time we've beaten the Afghan National Army soldiers. Of course, my being the VB Ref had absolutely no impact on the final scores. Look closely at the soccer field. The ground is like concrete and covered with rocks. CSM Allan Jellum download Allan's powerpoint presentation of FDNY Sports Day in Afghanistan April 25, 2008 Back in NYC: DSC00425 When I took the pictures of FDNY Sports Day in Afghanistan to the 5 & 24, to show them how their missing "L" shirts had been used, this was their reaction... DSC00426 and this... DSC00427 and this... DSC00428 and this... from Captain McNally, with a video message to the troops DSC00430 And this from Captain McNally DSC00431 Captain O'Connor with the flags presented by Mike Levasseur on 9-11-07 for Firefighters Graffagnino and Beddia September 10-11, 2008 NYC DSC00081 September 10, 2008, Captain Brian Winter, after two tours in Iraq, arrives in New York City with some of the folks he works with in Minnesota. First thing I did was hustle him off to the FDNY Harbor Patrol and bang on the door. DSC00085 I had asked the FDNY Harbor unit before. They said, "Bring the Troops". And so I did. DSC00084 Tim and Rob at the bow. DSC00083 Tim and Rob a moment later. Just to let you know the boat was moving all this while. DSC00086 Kyle, Tony, Steve (FDNY) and Eric with Ground Zero/World Trade Center/ World Financial Center in the background DSC00087 Yes, I made them do a "thumbs up" for the troops. DSC00088 Bacia's first boat ride, I'm holding to these guys for dear life because, like I said, the boat was really moving and I didn't want to fall over with the baby! But with this crowd... not likely ;) DSC00089 After writing to Brian through two of his tours to Iraq, being able to show him this special place meant a lot to me. . DSC00091 Captain Lonergan spoke of his experiences. DSC00092 DSC00093 Eric and Tony and the WTC site DSC00096 The guys surround Lady Liberty with Ellis Island beside them. DSC00097 Captain Lonergan explains the arrival of immigrants to Ellis Island. DSC00098 DSC00100 Minnesota invades New York. And we like that just fine. Back Row: LTC Tim Kojetin, SFC Rob Bostic, CPT Brian Winter, 1LT Kyle Williamson Front Row: TSgt Tony Jones, SFC Eric Emery DSC00101 Back Row: LTC Tim Kojetin, SFC Rob Bostic, CPT Brian Winter, 1LT Kyle Williamson Front Row: TSgt Tony Jones, SFC Eric Emery DSC00102 Back Row: LTC Tim Kojetin, SFC Rob Bostic, CPT Brian Winter, 1LT Kyle Williamson, FDNY CPT Lonergan Front Row: TSgt Tony Jones, SFC Eric Emery DSC00104 Brian used to sign his emails from Iraq with this quote: "We sleep safely in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us" ~ George Orwell Captain Lonergan says: Hope everyone had a good time and we would do it again in a New York Minute DSC00105 Rough Men indeed, but still, I made them do the "Thumbs Up" for the troops. I'm a pretty bossy blonde from New York City, ya don't want to mess with me either! DSC00106 What does a National Guardsman from Minnesota have in common with a nice Jewish Girl writer from New York City and her little boy? We are the Americans. We believe in our constitutional rights- all of them. We both fight for them and support each other with everything we have to give. DSC00107 DSC00108 Brian with one of the sets of "The Falls" art project, and the River Cafe in Brooklyn. DSC00109 Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges from the bow. DSC00111 Bacia looking towards Brooklyn DSC00112 No disrespect to Captain Lonergan, but this is the only shot I got of set of the Falls Art Project under the Brooklyn Bridge DSC00114 Now in the East River, viewing South Street Seaport. DSC00115 In the Wheelhouse DSC00117 Bacia's got a lot to look up to here :) (and I'm still holding on!) DSC00118 End of the ride DSC00119 I have no idea what they are pointing at... who, me? PDRM2174 September 11, 2008- This picture from Memorial Day 2005 shows FDNY Captain Weldon and the men of Ladder 20 wearing the brown shirts sent from Captain Brian Winters and his men of the 4/5 ADA serving in Iraq DSC01062 On 9/11/2008 Captain Brian Winters stands with Captain Weldon and the same FDNY firefighters from that picture, plus Sergeant Mike Levasseur, alongside the rig and the names of the seven men lost from Ladder 20 seven years ago. DSC01063 At Ladder 5 Engine 24 the Minnesotans were greeted by the Chief. DSC01064 DSC01065 After paying respects at both firehouses, we went to Mass. Then the Minnesotans were off to the Rainbow Room and to meet up with their new friends in the FDNY. I took Bacia home and thought about all the Rough Men and Women who let us sleep safe at night, how lucky I am to know some of them and be able to say "Thank You". Most of all I thought about those I heard about this day who I could not and never will, and how much I owe them. saw the Minnesotans invade New York Return to Ladder 20's Troop Support Table of Contents