It’s Not Just a Pin, It’s a Promise

When an elderly acquaintance stopped by on a Saturday afternoon — just a few weeks after September 11, 2001 — I noticed a colorful pin (a picture of the Twin Towers) affixed to the lapel of his sport coat. It bore the inscription, “9–11–01 Liberty State Park.” “Such a beautiful tribute!” I said as I greeted him. “Well,” he sighed, “that’s why I stopped by today. I have a story.”

My friend began September 11th, 2001 giving back to the country he loved, cherished, and served. A volunteer at Liberty State Park, one of New Jersey’s “most dramatic parks” with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, this very proud Italian-American expected to spend the picture-perfect day sharing his talents with visitors of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

But in a moment — in the twinkling of an eye — it all changed.
There, on the shores of the Hudson River and in the shadow of Lady Liberty, my friend saw much more than the horrific collapse of the Twin Towers. Instead, he witnessed the unthinkable: the loss of a son.

“My son worked in the south tower,” he said. “I saw the explosion…and then the fire…and I tried to call my son… and I kept calling…but I couldn’t reach him. And when the towers collapsed, I knew that my son — my boy — was lost.”

And then — as he tearfully concluded his poignant narrative, he removed the pin from the lapel on his sport coat and lovingly placed it into my quivering hand with a humble yet profound request: Will you wear this pin for my son?

Though twenty years have passed since my friend recounted his tender, heart-rending story of loss, I have not forgotten my promise. I will proudly wear the pin in memory of a fallen son and honor a grieving dad.

In memory of the hero whom I shall never meet, and in tribute to a grieving dad who never had the chance to say good-bye to a beloved son, this pin, which probably cost pennies, is today an invaluable symbol of hope, strength, and honor. Because it’s not just a pin; it’s a promise.

Photo credit: Carol Highsmith | Library of Congress