Think back 5 years ago today and remember where you were at that time!  Today I rode up the Mountain behind my house searching and dreaming of the Trade Centers thirty five hundred feet above sea level. I have a hard time picturing them. I thought about the people that perished during the attacks. How can this happen? Why did it happen? What is your connection? One cousin and a Firefighter that I knew perished in the Trade centers. I never knew I would be a Fireman. As a kid I did not want to be a fireman, but I am a fireman and proud to be one. The impact of that day hit me all over again and it got me to thinking about why I felt such a strong connection to the World Trade Center buildings.

I was born in New York City in 1966 and lived there until my family moved to Atlanta in 1971.  Then, in 1997 I rode my bicycle in the Five Boro Bicycle ride across New York City.  There were over ten thousand cyclist riding through New York City. We started at Battery Park and made our way north towards the Trade Centers.  Mayor Guiliani had a booth set up right next to the Trade centers and he was asking people to stop and announce the town or city they came from. I stopped and shook the Mayor's hand and was also able to touch one corner of the Trade center. I was able to tell the Mayor were I was from Atlanta, Georgia and of course, he made fun of my accent. I'll tell you, one of the best sites your eyes could ever see, is climbing the Great Verrazano Bridge on a bicycle from Brooklyn to Staten Island and looking to your right and the World Trade Centers' are standing there. That was the last time I saw the buildings.

Growing up in Atlanta, I lived in a diverse community.  We were taught and learned to accept people for who they are and not for what or where they come from. Mother taught us compassion; during the holidays she always made sure that if there was a person that did not have a family, they were invited to join our family.  Why am I sharing this with you.  It's because there was a special camaraderie that existed after 9/11 - the kind of compassion my mother taught us.  And I wanted to remind everyone not to let that go.

We never know what our fate will be.  At one point during my career racing bicycles I was living in New York City and realized that I wanted to come back to Atlanta.  Once back in Atlanta I met with my old Team Manager from Schwinn who was a firefighter and he suggested I try out some of the local Fire Departments.  I tried it out and after a couple of years I succeeded in becoming a firefighter.   

When I graduated from recruit class, my father came up to me and told me something I had never heard before. My father use to be a New York firefighter, my father was on a hook and ladder company for nine years. I never knew my father was a firefighter. Since that time I have been back to my fathers station several times. The guys at the fire house have pictures of Atlanta Fire truck number 21 on the wall. The guys there even retired my fathers badge number after his passing.

I am grateful to my Father, Mother, Team manager, and Fire  Captain; their  presence in my life has made a giant impact in my life.  Special thanks to my Boss. I appreciate your leadership and patience.  Special thanks to my partner of fourteen years. Thanks Guys. And to my fiancé, my son, my family.  Never knowing what lies ahead for any of us, who do you want to thank today?

Firefighters always try to help the public out of dangerous situations.  When you see a Firefighter always try and shake their hand - they will appreciate it. I was asked to give a speech tonight at the Gilmer County Civic Center about 911 and my connection to it. I am proud to be a City of Atlanta Firefighter and I feel proud that I was asked to speak tonight. 

I will always remember 911 and feel that connection to it.  May we all remember not only the event, but continue to carry the compassion in our hearts.

Mike Palmeri