Tour Ground Zero with the brother of 9/11 hero FDNY Capt. Billy Burke, Jr.
The “Sphere Guy”
Join me, native New Yorker and 9/11 family member and activist Michael Burke. Confront the attacks. Honor the memory of those taken. I led the fight to return the iconic Koenig Sphere, the only remaining intact artifact of the WTC, to the WTC site. I fought to ensure that the first responders who gave all were identified at the memorial, and co-founded the annual 1 WTC Tower Climb. I have been at the forefront of the fight at Ground Zero to faithfully preserve and convey the authentic history of September 11, 2001.
Visit with Me
The Sphere
We anchor our visit in Ground Zero history by starting at “Sphere,” by German artist Fritz Koenig. Now situated in Liberty Park, overlooking the memorial from the south, the iconic sculpture stood in the center fountain of the WTC Plaza for 30 years as a symbol of world peace. Though heavily damaged 9/11, it miraculously survived the attacks intact. Banned by officials from the memorial because it would remind visitors of the attacks, its future was uncertain. For a decade I led the fight to return it to Ground Zero, and its triumphant return was covered in national and international media. Made by history, with its own inherent and immutable truth, visit “Sphere” with me and hear firsthand the authentic story of its incredible journey.
St. Nicholas National Shrine
Sharing Liberty Park with Sphere, the Shrine was built in honor of the humble St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church which stood nearby. It was founded in 1916 in a former tavern, in the area then known as “Little Syria” for the large Arabic speaking population that emigrated there. The multi-ethnic, working class neighborhood also included many Irish, German, Slavic and Scandinavian immigrants. For nearly three decades St. Nicholas stood in the shadows of the Twin Towers, and was the only house of worship destroyed, 9/11.
FDNY Memorial Wall
At “Ten House,” Ladder 10, Engine 10, firehouse, across from the southeast corner of the memorial. A gracious gift of Holland & Knight, LLP, in honor of law partner Gary Winuk, 40, a volunteer firefighter and EMT from Jericho, LI, it lists the names of the 343 firefighters who gave all, and depicts their efforts. On 9/11, Winuk grabbed his EMT bag and rushed from his nearby office to the WTC to help. He died in the collapse of the south Tower. After leaving a message of gratitude, I was invited by Holland & Knight to speak as a family member at the dedication, June 6, 2006. Hear inspirational stories of some of the men whose names are inscribed on that wall.
“Reflecting Absence,” is the billion dollar, eight acre design chosen by the 13 member memorial jury out of over 5,000 entries. Tour with me and discover, from someone who was there, the contentious real story behind the “meaningful adjacencies” by which the names are listed; the battle by FDNY families to properly identify the 406 first responders who gave all, and the effort to align the victims’ names by their genuine WTC experience and fate, 9/11. Discover stories of those innocents brutally taken and commemorate not only their loss, but the full meaning and magnitude of their deaths, and by that, best honor their memory.
Follow in the footsteps of Capt. William F. (Billy) Burke, Jr.
While on the 27th floor of 1 WTC, the north tower, and aware of the collapse of the south tower, Capt. Burke radioed his men a few floors below and ordered them to evacuate. They offered to wait.
“Keep going,” Billy told them, “I’m right behind you with two civilians. Meet at the rig.”
Escaping as the tower came down behind them, his men and the civilians they saved all survived.
The “two civilians” Billy was with was Ed Beyea, a quadriplegic trapped in his mechanized wheelchair in a tower with no working elevators, and Abe Zelmanowitz, his friend and co-worker. Before they could escape, 1 WTC collapsed and Ed, Abe and Capt. Billy Burke perished with the other 2,746 innocents at the WTC, 9/11.
Speaking with survivors whom Billy encountered at the WTC, I was able to piece together his entire incredible story. I learned how his leadership and decisive actions contributed to the survival of another dozen firefighters and several dozen office workers.
Join me at Ground Zero and trace Capt. Burke’s footsteps. Connect with all the inspiring and heart rendering stories of heroism, sacrifice and loss.
“You will leave with a far fuller understanding of what happened here, Sept. 11, 2001, and of the long and complex process of memorialization and rebuilding.”
Eva Santiago
Buford, GA