The Red Bandanna: A Life, A Choice, A Legacy.

A New York Times bestseller, "The Red Bandanna" by Tom Rinaldi, tells the story of Welles Crowther, whose actions on 9/11 offer a lasting lesson on character, calling, and courage.

Growing up in Upper Nyack, New York, Welles Crowther was a standout athlete and a volunteer at the local fire department, alongside his father. He cherished the necessity and camaraderie of this role, and the dream of becoming a firefighter with the FDNY remained with him even after he took a Wall Street job on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, fresh from college.

One Sunday morning before church, Welles's father gave him a red handkerchief for his back pocket, and this became a fixture and his signature in the years to come. The red bandanna was a symbol of Welles's dedication and compassion, which would be put to the ultimate test on that fateful day.

When the Twin Towers fell, Welles's parents had no idea what had happened to him. In the unbearable days that followed, they came to accept that he would never come home. However, the mystery of his final hours persisted.

Eight months after the attacks, Welles's mother read a news account from several survivors, badly hurt on the 78th floor of the South Tower, who said they and others had been led to safety by a stranger, carrying a woman on his back, down nearly twenty flights of stairs. After leading them down, the young man turned around and said, "I'm going back up." The survivors didn't know his name, but despite the smoke and panic, one of them remembered a single detail clearly: the man was wearing a red bandanna.

Tom Rinaldi's "The Red Bandanna" is a tribute to Welles Crowther's fearless choice, his crucible of terror, and the indomitable spirit with which he answered it. The book examines one decision in the gravest situation and celebrates the difference that one life can make.

Welles's actions on 9/11 serve as a lasting lesson on the power of character, calling, and courage. Through his selfless acts of heroism, he demonstrated the true meaning of sacrifice and the enduring impact that a single individual can have, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

The story of Welles Crowther is a testament to the human spirit and the enduring legacy that can be left behind when one chooses to put the needs of others before their own. "The Red Bandanna" is a poignant and powerful read that reminds us all of the difference we can make, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

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