BOBS TRIP TO DC

BOB'S TRIP TO
WASHINGTON D.C.
MEMORIAL DAY 2011

To the officers and members of Battalion 6
Engine 16 - 3 Truck

Hi Brothers

I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to show my brothers. I moved
to the Villages in Central Florida four years ago. It is a golf cart community and I got the idea to build the
cart. Not knowing how it would turn out. It took over six months to build it. I had to explain what I was
looking for and they tried to accommodate my wishes. Thus the FD343NY Memorial Cart was made. It is well
received in the Villages. It has been apart of the St Patrick’s Day Parade here for the past 3 years. I took the
Cart to New York when the Pope went down to ground zero trying to get the cart down there. The Church
would not allow the cart down there. I do different thing to keep alive the memory of the 343.
About two months ago I received a letter from the NYC FD that the families of 9/11 were being asked to be
apart of the Memorial Day Parade. I saw this opportunity to show the Cart to new people and I went about, to
make it happen. They recommended a hotel for $175.00 a night, the trailer was $40.00 and the van was
$30.00. I was planning to come a few day’s early to get news coverage. No luck there. It was going to be a
lot of money
I got on my phone and Googled the Washington DC Fire Dept. It gave me every company. I don’t know
Washington, I just happened to pick your house out. I do believe the 343 guided me to your house. It was
just down the street from the Parade. I did not know this. I don’t remember who I spoke to but was told to
come on up. You gave me the chance to show the Cart to new people.
On Sunday the Roaring Thunder ( Motorcycle Group ) was there to honor the Veteran. It was reported that
over 200,000 motorcycles were there. It took well over 4 hours for them all to pass. I had the cart alongside
the parade where no people were standing thus giving them a good look at the cart. They were waving,
taking pictures of the cart and giving me thumbs up. I had no idea of this, that day. One of the brothers
mentioned this to me and I went. Thank you.
It was a great day for me I got to show the cart to over 200,000 plus people that made me feel happy to be
doing. I will contact this group for there next outing and try to be there, to cheer them on.
On Memorial Day I arrived early to find my position. I found a group NYC members that were down for the
march. It was a hot day and I tried to find some shade. Thank God for the cold water.
There was a well dressed women looking at my cart. I invited her to sit in the cart to get out of the sun. She
gave me a picture of her son a solder that was recently killed. I took the picture and told her I would keep it
always on the Cart. Some people came and asked her to come to the trailer that was in front of me.
I found out she had paid for the sign on the back of this trailer.
I include the picture of the back of the trailer.
Now I will make every effort to be there also, for the Memorial Day Parade in NYC.
It was a tough day for me with the heat. It was the first time in my life that I was light headed because of the
heat. It did happen at a fire but I recouped fairly quick. I was happy to get back to the fire house. I had
asked for you to put the cart back in the trailer and hook the car to the trailer. I went up to lay down.
When I woke up, I saw the car attached to the trailer. I showered and got ready to leave. Went down to the
kitchen and thanked the brothers. I did not know about these caffeine drinks and asked if I should?
It was recommended that the Red Bull might be OK. We shook hands thanked them and I was on my way
On my ride home at two different times a motorcycle passed me and gave me a thumbs up, needless to say it
brought a smile to my face and made me feel good.
Sipping the Red Bull I was able to drive straight through. I didn’t know if the Red Bull that I was sipping
would have kept me up if I stopped at a motel.
Again, Thank You for what you did for me

I’m planning on going up to NYC in August for the Police, Fire Olympics. They will end Sept 6 and I will stay
for the 9/11 ceremonies that will take place in the different boroughs and will head back after .