We Were There - Brenda Berkman and Cathy Langford

A retired FDNY Captain, Brenda Berkman helped pave the way for women to become FDNY firefighters. She responded on 9/11 and worked the recovery.
Cathy Langford lived and worked steps away from the World Trade Center. She witnessed the horrors of 9/11 from her apartment window and went into labor that day.

[@VickiBee]

I know (knew?) someone who died there. Just because they rarely mention him doesn't mean he wasn't there. His name was Eric Bennett and he lived in the same Brooklyn neighborhood that I did. I wasn't wealthy. I was working for a nonprofit organization as a newsletter editor & staff writer. The reason I was in the air the morning that this happened is that I was returning to New York from Los Angeles, where their organization began. Then, since I have asthma, my doctor told me I would need to leave the entire New York area for a few years. I took his advice but I got the 9/11 breathing problem anyway. They found a mass in my chest when I was 50 and operated to remove it. I'm still in the 5-year remission phase from that.

[@bobporch]

My father was a fireman. He stoked a 6 drive wheel locomotive. Firefighters like Captain Berkman attack fires and save lives: that is why we call them firefighters not firemen. Captain Berkman is one of my personal heroes for smashing barriers. Her lithographs are beautiful.

[@barbie.travels]

Thank you to the FIREFIGHTERS!!! Thank you to all the hereos, paramedics, police teams, nurses, doctors,.....Wevwill never forget!

[@agatasmoka7641]

This one hit me. Beautiful closure to the most terrible pf all days. All the best, Grace! ❤

[@thenanlife1141]

So very brave and heartbreaking xx

[@HSVmadTown]

I love seeing female 9/11 rescuers represented - they get left out of the picture more often than not - so thank you 👍

[@trolojolo6178]

Female fighters, haven't be left out. Jesus. Can you stop spreading feminist BS. There is statistically a low percentage of female fireman. And the small amount of woman who helped that day, DIED. They are dead and can't speak up for them self.

[@Augfordpdoggie]

ur sexist

[@thenanlife1141]

God only knows what these brave people went through this sunny sept morning .. RIP to all who perished xx🥰🥰🥰🥰🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jamiethomas5845]

Tbh i nor my family will ever be any type of emergency rescue nothing. It's not worth it. But appreciate and respect all the fire fighters and police and first responders.

[@vincentm.7462]

Damn look at Brenda crushing social norms

[@desiertoscacti5388]

I am amazed at the resilience of the people involved and grateful for them sharing their stories. I also love the calm voice of this particular guide that introduces the talks. She is wonderful to hear.

[@kristinajockel3767]

Can I ask what’s so wrong with having a baby in NJ?

[@Bellasie1]

She didn't explain her reasons but the audience understood since they laughed. I suppose she wanted to make sure her child would be registered as born in NYC and not elsewhere. It is quite possible that they did all they could to live uptown also for that purpose in the first place.

[@derp8575]

I literally didn't see one firewoman going into WTC on 9/11.

[@ronwilliams1094]

Fascinating stories. Our youngest generation could stand to learn lifelong lessons from these personal accounts rather than only what their textbooks teach them. God bless all the victims, living and deceased, and God bless our first responders.

[@mosesbaca7084]

Heartbreaking 💔

[@carriehenry6721]

Nothing wrong with living or bein born in NJ ...LOL😇

[@mariekatherine5238]

My 911 debris is vacuum sealed in a plastic bag at the back of the top shelf of my cedar closet. I’ll open it if and when I ever decide to deal with it. If not, my son will get it after my death.

[@bd3825]

You could be hoarding somebody's remains. Why you keep the debris is beyond me. If you have unresolved issues then do something about it.

[@mariekatherine5238]

Bass Warner 😳. Certainly I do not have anyone’s remains! You think I’m a grave robber? When I say “debris,” I do NOT mean the dust or dirt or objects off the ground. I have two campaign posters taken off lamp posts on Houston St., three sheets of office paper, one with a business logo on it, one torn on the bottom with a phone number scribbled out, the other blank, my styrofoam coffee cup from that morning, a poem that came to my mind the next day, a dollar bill I found on the ground somewhere around midtown, and a MetroCard with 9/11/01 expiration date. The posters and the paper with the logo may be of historical value in the future. The phone # doesn’t work. I tried it a few times and got a recording “not currently in service.” It may belong to someone now in 2029, but I wouldn’t dare try it and have to explain why I’m calling!

[@MG707]

That's so crazy do you have a good story from that day?

[@speakupforourfuturepamelas3431]

I am from Ohio... I saw it all go gown on TV... my dog and I were in bed... I squeeze him so hard he could have bit me.. I was on the phone with my sister and I even called my parents in South Carolina... I was so scared that I slept with my lights on for weeks... I even remember when our local news was telling us to buy masks and tape do tape up the windows and vents... My friend Marni died.. She was a Rick Springfield fan... I miss her a lot....

[@theresashaw6652]

I'm sorry your friend died there.

[@speakupforourfuturepamelas3431]

@@theresashaw6652 Thank you...

[@dtimmys]

Speak up For our Future ( Pamela's V Log Channel Extention) im sorry for your loss and i was 5 when it all happened and my aunt was in downtown manhattan when it all happened and ahe saw the first plane hit the building and luckily got on the train before the city stopped all trains, i remember my mom woke me up with my sister and aunt and told us to pray for everyone and the city because it was that bad and i remember my uncle came from brooklyn and my dad came from work and we watched it on tv all happen. Why were you asked to wear masks and tape up your windows if you were that far from nyc?

[@speakupforourfuturepamelas3431]

@@dtimmys I guess they were worred about more attacks...

[@dtimmys]

Speak up For our Future ( Pamela's V Log Channel Extention) yeah that makes sense

[@mk202]

I find it horribly unacceptable that firefighters weren’t evacuated from the site when building 7 went down. Building 7 was discussed earlier that day and scheduled to be ‘pulled’. The fact that the firefighters ended up running for their lives and so many still never made it, is a criminal lack of precaution in my opinion. The fire chief is also being cautiously politically correct when she fails to mention that there were at least three sonic booms about two minutes before building 7 actually collapsed. I’m sure it would be difficult now to find the video I’ve seen of people on the street who all heard the explosions that went off, but I’ve seen it. People froze until the explosions seemed to be over, and then they ran like hell, before the building actually came down.

[@derp8575]

Steve Evans, Reporter for BBC: “I was at the base of the second tower, the second tower that was hit. There was an explosion…the base of the building shook. I felt it shake…then when we were outside, the second explosion happened and then there was a series of explosions.” "I said "Yeah I was right there when it blew up." he said "you were there when the planes hit?" I said "no I was there when it exploded, the building exploded." he said "you mean when it fell down?" I said "no when it exploded." -FIRE MARSHAL JOHN COYLE

[@juliamarin4896]

Thank you for everything that you did. God Bless.

[@Augfordpdoggie]

dont you think if god existed he woulda saved all those people?

[@doggiestylepetresort]

9/11 Never Forgotten

[@derp8575]

Hard to forget a terrorist attack carried out by our own government. Steve Evans, Reporter for BBC: “I was at the base of the second tower, the second tower that was hit. There was an explosion…the base of the building shook. I felt it shake…then when we were outside, the second explosion happened and then there was a series of explosions.” "I said "Yeah I was right there when it blew up." he said "you were there when the planes hit?" I said "no I was there when it exploded, the building exploded." he said "you mean when it fell down?" I said "no when it exploded." -FIRE MARSHAL JOHN COYLE

[@TitansTrust]

Who cares if we say firemen..or firewomen.What difference does it make.If I see a guy doing his job as a fireman hell be called firemen. Vice versa if I see a woman as a firefighter.

[@trolojolo6178]

Exactly what I thought. Typical feminist agenda. This woman took away the pride of those heroes who died and she just had an day off. Yeah sure. Pathetic

[@derp8575]

What a simp. Men are generally stronger than women. Berkman literally had the physical aptitude test lowered so women could join. Read her Wiki page and see for yourself. Lives are at stake.

[@jacobyoung7000]

I'm wondering if she was with the clan of grifters who caused panic and havok by swiping some other ladder's uniforms and dying in them

[@dannylarry9408]

Grifters? No, they were coming into to volunteer and didn’t have their gear and borrowed it. That’s an idiotic, stupid comment.

[@zed4643]

Shut up you idiot

[@sarahito8951]

That statement is cruel and unnecessary.

[@gwen7205]

You don't know wtf you're talking about