From
GWR▸ , via the Long Rock Open Day Facebook page:
We have a very special naming taking place with very special guests.
Cornish 9/11 hero to be honoured.
One of the heroes of 9/11, Cornishman Rick Rescorla, is to be honoured after being nominated by members of the public as one of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) 100 Great Westerners.
Rick, the Head of Security for Morgan Stanley in 2001, will have a new Intercity Express Train named after him at a ceremony attended by family and friends on Saturday 13 April 2019.
Rick’s widow Susan Rescorla and other family members are flying over to the UK▸ especially for the naming ceremony and will be joined by many of Rick’s family and friends who still live in Cornwall.
She said:
“Rick was so proud of his Cornish roots and when we visited we would always travel on the train. To know Rick is being honoured in this way and is remembered with such fondness is great comfort. I know he would be so proud of this.”
During the attack on the World Trade Centre, Rick calmly helped save the lives of over 2,500 people as he evacuated them from the South Tower, singing Cornish folk songs as he led them down the stairs.
After ensuring their safety, he went back into the building and was last seen on the 10th floor, heading upward, shortly before the South Tower collapsed. He was declared dead three weeks later.
Mark Hopwood, GWR Managing Director said:
“Rick’s story is a remarkable tale of incredible bravery and it is little wonder that the public want to recognise him as someone who really epitomises the spirit of the region we serve.
“Naming trains has been a part of the GWR since the days of Brunel and we are humbled that Rick Rescorla’s name will be carried by one of our new Intercity Express Trains.”
The naming is to take place in front of thousands of anticipated visitors to the Long Rock Open Day, Long Rock Train Maintenance Depot, in Penzance on Saturday 13 April 2019.
GWR’s 100 Great Westerners were nominated by the public through the region’s media and are a mixture of well-known and less celebrated figures who have made a significant contribution to the West Country.
The first 50 of GWR’s new Intercity Express Trains will bear their names. The first train was named by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2017.
A fitting tribute indeed. In this instance 'hero' is a an undoubtedly appropriate epithet. Reading more about this remarkable man made me well up.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rescorla
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