"I still get chills every time I walk on board this ship."
Brooklyn born and raised, and now Norfolk-based, Electronic Technician First Class Thomas Grawl walks the decks of the USS New York feeling more than patriotic.
But he says it's taken a lot of time and a lot of counseling to talk freely and openly about what happened in his hometown on september 11th, 2001.
"The lines went dead and I couldn't get a hold of them for three more days."
At the time, ET-1 Grawl was deployed with a west coast based ship.
When he would finally get ahold of his family he'd find out that his cousin, 36-year-old Robert Scandole. Then vice president of Cantor Fitzgerald, was missing and later presumed dead.
For years, this 17-year navy veteran has struggled with his cousins death and the attacks on 9/11.
But he says all of that changed when he got word that the navy was building a brand new USS New York with 7.5 tons of steel form the world trade center towers.
ET-1 Thomas Grawl says he immediately picked up the phone and asked for his orders to be changed.
"It meant a lot to me and my family to be onboard this ship and to be a part of history and a floating memorial."
ET-1 Grawl says Robert Ccandole's remains were never found so this ship, built and strengthened with remains of the place his he died makes it a living legacy.
"Every time it cuts through the water, every time it is set afloat anywhere, part of him is moving with this ship and that in itself is a legacy I wanted to be a part of."
As the ship readies its elf to serve and protect the waters of the world, ET-1 Grawl knows Robert is looking out from above.
"Rob. I miss you. I love you. And I'm trying to make you proud everyday."
Brooklyn born and raised, and now Norfolk-based, Electronic Technician First Class Thomas Grawl walks the decks of the USS New York feeling more than patriotic.
But he says it's taken a lot of time and a lot of counseling to talk freely and openly about what happened in his hometown on september 11th, 2001.
"The lines went dead and I couldn't get a hold of them for three more days."
At the time, ET-1 Grawl was deployed with a west coast based ship.
When he would finally get ahold of his family he'd find out that his cousin, 36-year-old Robert Scandole. Then vice president of Cantor Fitzgerald, was missing and later presumed dead.
For years, this 17-year navy veteran has struggled with his cousins death and the attacks on 9/11.
But he says all of that changed when he got word that the navy was building a brand new USS New York with 7.5 tons of steel form the world trade center towers.
ET-1 Thomas Grawl says he immediately picked up the phone and asked for his orders to be changed.
"It meant a lot to me and my family to be onboard this ship and to be a part of history and a floating memorial."
ET-1 Grawl says Robert Ccandole's remains were never found so this ship, built and strengthened with remains of the place his he died makes it a living legacy.
"Every time it cuts through the water, every time it is set afloat anywhere, part of him is moving with this ship and that in itself is a legacy I wanted to be a part of."
As the ship readies its elf to serve and protect the waters of the world, ET-1 Grawl knows Robert is looking out from above.
"Rob. I miss you. I love you. And I'm trying to make you proud everyday."
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
