Nyack defeated North Salem 17-10 at home on Wednesday in the school’s annual Welles Crowther game. North Salem went into the game with only ten players dressed, but made the long drive and fought shorthanded for four full quarters.
The event has become one of the most important of the year for Nyack athletics, as the town honors the memory of Crowther, who lost his life in 2 World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Welles Crowther was born in Pomona and moved to Nyack when he was seven years old. He was an ice hockey and lacrosse standout, held numerous youth leadership positions, and was a member of multiple Honor Societies. Welles sense of service lead him to become a Junior Firefighter in Nyack at 16 years old, and a full member when he turned 18. Following his four years at Nyack, he would go on to play Division 1 lacrosse at Boston College.
After graduating from BC, Welles would enter the finance world, with a promising job at Sandler, O’Neill and Partner on the 104th Floor of 2 World Trade Center. He moved quickly from analyst to trader, but on September 11, he instinctively switched from trader to a firefighter, jumping into action, assisting people to evacuation routes and coordinating efforts with the NYFD. Stories of “The Man in the Red Bandana” began to trickle out over the months and years after the attacks. When Welles’ Mom, Alison began to hear the stories, she knew it was her son. Welles had always carried a red bandana with him since he was a young boy and had used it to cover his face from smoke in the Tower.
There are reports that Welles Crowther was directly responsible for saving at least ten lives on 9/11 and likely contributed to the escape of dozens of others. Eyewitnesses described the “Man in the Red Bandana” as calm, collected and well trained. He was seen making multiple trips up and down dozens of flights of stairs helping others to safety and his body was discovered with a group of NYFD members who were heading upstairs with the jaws of life to get to those who were trapped under debris.
The current class of High School seniors were born five or six years prior to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Towers. The more time that passes, the easier it gets to read about in history books, and to forget about the stories of heroism, sacrifice and selflessness that shined through on one of the darkest days in American history.
Welles Crowther was a lot of things. He was an incredible athlete, exceptional student and natural born leader, but to me, the essence of his heroism is the simple fact that he always put others before himself. This is something we can all do more of in our daily lives and would be one of the most genuine ways to honor Welles legacy.
Incredible job by Nyack High School as well as Boston College who ensure that Welles’ story will never be forgotten.
