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NYC Firefighter-Author Shares His 9/11 Experiences With Temple U. Students

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Temple University today hosted a program to mark the approaching ten-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

New York City firefighter Fabrizio Bivona, a first responder at the World Trade Center in 2001, was here at Temple University today as part of a 9/11 concert and presentation.

"Fifteen thousand children lost their parents that day," he says.  "A lot of people don't realize that -- and that's 15,000 kids whose lives were permanently altered in the blink of an eye."

Listen to Hadas Kuznits' interview with Fabrizio Bivona in this CBS Philly "Specials Place" podcast…

Podcast

Click to download podcast for later listening

Bivona says it's interesting to him to speak to college students about the terrorist attacks of ten years ago.

"I think it's very important.  I think it actually dooms us as a nation -- even as humanity -- if we don't honor people who are willing to do more for others than themselves."

And he says he can't believe a decade has already gone by.

"It's unbelievable to me," he told KYW Newsradio today.  "For me it's like it just happened yesterday.  I mean, for me there are things imprinted in my mind forever.  I saw people jumping from the buildings.  I have a 30-year career so I thought I had seen it all.  Until 9/11.  And then I realized I hadn't seen it all yet."

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060

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