Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old from Upper Nyack who was working on the 104th floor of the South Tower on 9/11, is credited with rescuing at least 10 people from the burning building, while covering his nose and mouth with a red bandana to protect himself from the smoke.

He made several trips up and down stairwells, helping people escape. Eventually, he joined a group of New York City firefighters who were working to free people who were trapped before the building collapsed.

He died with the group of firefighters in the South Tower’s lobby, where his body was found in a makeshift command center. The New York City Fire Department named Crowther an honorary firefighter in 2006.

Crowther became known as the “Man in the Red Bandana,” as survivors he had helped rescue shared their stories of

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