By Andy Martino, Michael O’Keeffe, and Gary Myers New York Daily News
In keeping with their tradition of heartfelt ceremonies on September 11 — the aftermath of which Bobby Valentine’s Mets were deeply involved in — the team will recognize a man who lost his son in the terrorist attacks.
When Jeff Crowther takes the mound this September 11, before the Mets’ 7:10 game with Washington, his thoughts will turn to his son Welles, one of the unsung heroes during the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
With his trademark red bandana strapped round his head, Welles was credited for saving at least a dozen lives at the World Trade Center. He lost his own life in the process.
“I know Welles will be looking down on me,” says Crowther. “He was a great athlete, too. Baseball was his first sport and then he played hockey and lacrosse. I have been practicing because I certainly don’t want to bounce.”
Welles, who was 24 when he died, went to Boston College and worked as an equities trader in the South Tower.
“The other day I was walking in Manhattan and someone stopped me and said, ‘Sir, are you the father of the man in the red bandana who saved all those lives?’” said the elder Crowther.
“They saw a story about it on TV. It’s a great feeling when someone says something like that.”
The Crowthers have started the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Foundation [sic – Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust] to reach out to deserving young men and women.
“Someone said to me that we raised Welles good,” said Jeff. “’If you didn’t do such a good job he might have walked away and thought of himself.’ That wasn’t Welles’ style though. He cared about people and always wanted to help. That’s his legacy.”
Minutes after the plane struck the South Tower, Welles called his mother and left a brief message saying he was okay. After hanging up the phone, he went about his business of saving lives.
