Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Who's who on Western railways => Topic started by: Lee on April 13, 2019, 09:04:03



Title: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: Lee on April 13, 2019, 09:04:03
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-47866351

Quote from: BBC
A man who saved thousands of lives during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks in New York is having a new train named after him in England.

Rick Rescorla from Cornwall was head of security for Morgan Stanley, a bank based in the south tower.

He evacuated more than 2,500 employees on 11 September 2001 before returning inside - but his body was never found.

He was nominated to have a new intercity express train named after him in a poll run by Great Western Railway.

The train will be named at a ceremony in Long Rock (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20926.0) near Penzance on Saturday.


Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: old original on April 13, 2019, 10:13:53
..and another one, maybe the other end, is being named after the Penlee life boat "Solomon Browne"


Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: Lee on April 13, 2019, 10:17:24
Indeed - https://www.piratefm.co.uk/news/latest-news/2849083/crew-of-penlee-lifeboat-disaster-commemorated-on-train/


Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: TaplowGreen on April 13, 2019, 12:16:54
..and another one, maybe the other end, is being named after the Penlee life boat "Solomon Browne"

Bravo. Both many times more deserving than the host of the Glastonbury Festival.....I was going to say more "worthy" 🙂


Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: JayMac on April 13, 2019, 18:48:11
A video of the first naming ceremony today. Presented by Mark Hopwood and Paul Gentleman of GWR, with speeches from Gregory Burton, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the United States Embassy in the UK, and most importantly, heartfelt words from Susan Riscorla, Rick's widow.

I'll admit to a tear or two listening to Susan's words.



Following the naming ceremony, the Mousehole Male Voice Choir, sung one of Rick Rescorla's favourite Cornish folk songs, The White Rose. Then closing words from Mark Hopwood. (We'll forgive him his Emmet (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmet_(Cornish)) mispronunciation of 'Mousehole' ;))



(Apologies for the wind noise on the videos. It was very breezy at the end of the peninsula today. Many videographers had sensibly come equipped with dead cats)

Unfortunately I didn't stay around for the later naming ceremony at the other end of 802008. As I'd driven down with Finn in tow I couldn't leave him in the car into the afternoon too. The other end was named 'Solomon Browne' after the Penlee lifeboat that was lost with all hands on 19th December 1981.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disaster

No doubt video will surface in the coming days of that naming ceremony. I'll keep an eye out.





Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: JayMac on April 14, 2019, 18:26:45
Those who do Facebook (link may work without log in) can view the second naming ceremony for 802008, 'Solomon Browne' here:

https://www.facebook.com/gwruk/videos/442723006487756/


Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: JayMac on November 10, 2019, 20:37:04
Rick Rescorla (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rescorla), who had a Class 802 named after him earlier this year, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal at a ceremony in The White House on 7th November 2019.  His widow Susan accepted the award from President Trump.

The Presidential Citizens Medal is the United States' second highest civilian award. It is awarded to US citizens "who have performed exemplary deeds or services for their country or fellow citizens."

The citation reads:

"Richard Cyril Rescorla.  At the cost of his own, Richard Rescorla helped save the lives of nearly 2,700 people at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001.

In the midst of the attack on the Twin Towers, Rescorla ignored advice to shelter people in place and instead aided their efforts to escape to safety.  He did not, however, join the evacuation.  He continued working to save lives until the tower collapsed, killing him and hundreds more.

The United States is proud to honor Rick Rescorla, whose valiant and selfless sacrifice for his fellow Americans on one of our Nation’s darkest days will never be forgotten.
"

The ceremony, with speeches from President Trump and Susan Riscorla is embedded below. During the President's speech he mentions the train in England named after Rick Rescorla. A model of that train was presented to the President and he said it'll go in the Oval Office.







Title: Re: Train named after Cornish 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla
Post by: ChrisB on November 11, 2019, 10:51:03
took them long enough!!



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