HEROES OF GROUND ZERO, THE {TERRORIST ATTACKS} (TV)
Summary
This documentary presents an account of the firefighters in two New York City firehouses as they struggle to cope in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Footage shows scenes in New York City six days after the attack: posters with pictures of the missing are on fences and walls in Manhattan and memorial candles and flowers crowd the sidewalk in front of the 65 Middagh Street firehouse in Brooklyn. Firefighters Richie Murray and John Sorrentino organize funerals for firefighters from the Middagh Street firehouse. At the West 31st St. Firehouse, Captain Ken Erb tries to get men to cover some of the shifts left vacant by the loss of eight of his men. Firefighter Steve Wojciochowski discusses his feelings in the six days since the attacks. Footage of firefighters at and around the World Trade Center immediately after the attacks is shown. Over footage of the second plane attack and the towers on fire, firefighters Mike Yarenbinskly and Frank Ocello give first-hand accounts of the scene. Over footage of the first tower falling and people on the street reacting, Ocello describes the experience of being in the tower during its collapse and being trapped in the rubble. Over footage of the second tower collapsing and people running from the site, Yarenbinsky talks about the order to leave the towers. Murray describes the debris and bodies at the site and the grim atmosphere at the firehouse in the weeks after the attacks.
Footage is shown of scenes from around New York City eight days after the attacks: people look at the site from across the street, memorial signs are posted on walls and lampposts, and the memorial outside the 65 Middagh Street firehouse grows. Murray and Sorrentino have trouble organizing a funeral. After eight straight days at the firehouse, Captain Erb makes dinner at his home while his fiancee talks about Erb's behavior. Over footage of a funeral in Brooklyn, fireman Frank Signorelli describes the firefighter being buried that day. Murray complains of the poor showing at a friend's funeral. Several firefighters talk about their methods of coping with the attacks and the loss of friends and colleagues. Probationary firefighter Vinnie Sainato talks about digging every day at the World Trade Center site. Footage is shown of the rescue operation at the site. The wife, daughter and granddaughter of lost firefighter Vernon Cherry visit his firehouse. Over footage of Manhattan two weeks after the attacks, narrator Tovah Feldshuh describes the outpourings of sympathy towards the firefighters. At the 31st St. firehouse, volunteer masseurs work on Captain Erb. In Brooklyn, Murray plans a memorial for men lost from his firehouse; he talks about the growing resentment among firefighters. Sorrentino describes his difficulties mourning lost firemen. Ten days later, Wojciochowski joins firefighters at Shea Stadium for a pre-game memorial service.
Footage shows Wojciochowski on the subway, firefighters on the field during the ceremony, and Liza Minnelli singing "New York, New York." Over footage from the baseball game and of fans in the stadium, Wojciochowski discusses baseball, family and America. Footage is shown of the World Trade Center site when the rescue operations officially became recovery operations. Footage of a memorial for firefighter Steve Belson is shown. Firefighters react to President Bush's October 7, 2001 announcement of military action against Afghanistan, which plays on the firehouse television; at their home, Vernon Cherry's children react to the President's plans for war. At Union Square, an argument erupts between peace protesters and a passerby. At the firehouse, Sainato finishes his probation year; over footage of shopping for groceries and serving a meal at the firehouse, he discusses his feelings about being a firefighter. Erb comments on perspective gained from the tragedy. Murray and Sorrentino talk about their emotional recovery after the attacks and react to firehouse tourism. Erb discusses survivor's guilt. Over footage of the World Trade Center site, Erb talks about the increase in medical leaves and retirements among firefighters after the attacks. Murray discusses the influx of young firefighters into the force and the resulting positive change in atmosphere in the firehouses. As credits roll, footage of a funeral is shown, along with photos of six firefighters who died September 11. This program is closed-captioned.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2003.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 9, 2002 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:06
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:74853
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries; News; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 2002
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Alan Hayling … Executive Producer
- Stephen Segaller … Executive Producer
- Miriam Reinharth … Supervising Producer
- Katharine English … Producer, Director
- Mira King … Assistant Producer
- Roger Sherman … Update Producer
- Kathy Levitt … Researcher
- Gerald Bair … Music by
- Sarah Class … Music by
- Tovah Feldshuh … Narrator
- Steve Belson
- George W. Bush
- Vernon Cherry
- Ken Erb
- Liza Minnelli
- Richie Murray
- Frank Ocello
- Vinnie Sainato
- Frank Signorelli
- John Sorrentino
- Steve Wojciochowski
- Mike Yarenbinskly