Mike Lawler Joins Trump as Nyack Resident Welles Crowther Receives Medal of Freedom

A major honor was presented today to a Rockland hero as Welles Remy Crowther, the “Man in the Red Bandana,” was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Congressman Mike Lawler was in Washington for the ceremony, where President Donald Trump presented the nation’s highest civilian honor to Crowther’s mother, Alison, and sister, Paige.

Crowther, who grew up in Upper Nyack and served as a volunteer firefighter with Empire Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, was working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He repeatedly went back into the burning tower to help others escape and is credited with saving as many as 18 people before the tower collapsed.

The ceremony was held at the Ellipse near the White House as part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “Steel Across America” event. A massive steel beam recovered from the South Tower was on display as a memorial to those who were killed and the first responders who ran toward the danger.

Lawler has played a role in bringing national recognition to Crowther’s story. Last year, he stood with Crowther’s family and local firefighters at the Nyack Fire Department and called on President Trump to award him the Medal of Freedom. He later introduced legislation seeking a Congressional Gold Medal for Crowther as well.

Following today’s ceremony, Lawler said that honoring Crowther also honors the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders who ran toward danger on 9/11.