President Trump awards Medal of Freedom to 9/11 hero Welles Crowther

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter known as the "man in the red bandana," for his heroic actions during the 9/11 attacks that saved up to 18 lives.
• Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter, repeatedly risked his life by navigating a barely accessible stairwell in the South Tower to rescue trapped survivors before losing his own life in the collapse.
• Trump highlighted Crowther's bravery and selflessness during the Tunnel to Towers' "Steel Across America" event, which features a steel beam from the World Trade Center being transported across the country to honor fallen heroes.
• Crowther's mother, Alison Crowther, spoke at the event, emphasizing her son's legacy of courage, compassion, and love for humanity that continues to inspire others 25 years after his death.
• Welles Crowther's firefighting skills and dedication were rooted in his early training with the Empire Hook and Ladder Company Number One of Upper Nyack, a volunteer firefighting unit he joined at age 16, following his father's footsteps.