He's Always Been On My Mind Poem

The story I chose to listen to was He’s always been on my mind ever since then… by Bill Cosgrove. It’s the story about a NYPD lieutenant during the tragic events on September 11, 2001. However this particular story involves him, four other brave policemen and firemen and a priest by the name of Father Mychal Judge. They were entering the North tower to start helping people to safety and then stumbled across Father Judge who under the rubble was in a chair. After checking his vital signs it came about that he didn’t make it. Instead of continuing on to see if they could find any other survivors these brave men carried Father Judge out of the burning building. Father Mychal Judge was always doing what ever he could to help the community henceforth why he was there that morning. Lieutenant Cosgrove didn’t know the father personally but he knew that he was there that day for a reason, and by helping him that is what kept him and the rest of the men that helped him safe the next two days. He goes on to tell you that there doesn’t go a day he doesn’t think of the Father and thank him for keeping him alive. I saw the title and brief description of this podcast and knew that this is the one I wanted to listen to,
maybe one reason I chose it is because today being the 10th anniversary of the tragic events that happened on 09-11-01 just made me want to hear a story that revolved around it. The significance of listening to this story to me is a reminder of how courageous those men and women that were present at the Twin Towers really were. It also signifies that when a tragedy comes knocking at America’s door the people are always here to help. Even ten years later that day still seems fresh in everyone’s mind especially those that were there, or those who had loved ones effected afterwards. It signifies the strength in one person, he knew that the Father wasn’t alive anyone but still made sure that he wasn’t left in the rubble, especially since he had heard how much Father Judge did for the community. It shows that Bill Cosgrove is a true American hero who didn’t want fame just felt thankful and blessed to be alive after the events of that tragic September day. When you listen to someone’s story versus reading it on paper you miss out on the emotions the author puts into their story. For example this story, yes even if you were to read it you’d get a feeling of sadness but listening to him tell it to you sends a shiver down your spine because you hear it from the person who was there, he tells it to you with real emotions and the exact way he felt. I think podcasts are great because you get a better understanding of what feelings the authors want you to feel, especially for those who have trouble getting into reading a book and deciphering the meanings and emotions. If I were to tell a story about myself, it’d probably be about never giving up on what you want to do in life, and following your own path despite what others think.
My wife and I moved out of my parents when I had just turned 18, and she was 19. Everyone told us that it would be too hard and that we should just wait. It’s been over a year and yes we struggle daily, sometimes it seems like even when we get back on our feet we fall another twenty yards but you just have to keep pushing on and continuing the path you want to live and if you are happy that’s all that matters. I think that is the message that I’d portray would be that, “yeah life’s hard, it has some downs but it also has some ups, it’s how you handle the bumpy road that will lead to the
outcome.”

I felt like attaching a link that lead to me of Leiutenant Cosgrove and the four other men that carried Father Judge out of the rubble that day for all of you to see. http://shannonstapleton.com/#/911/sept4 The photo was taken by Shannon Stapleton Photography.