00:00Hoy, en honor de su increíble honra y de todos los otros muchos actos de actos de heroísmo ese día,
00:07es mi privilegio de awardar el muy especial, el mayor honor que nos damos,
00:14el mayor mayor honor de la presidencial medalla de libertad.
00:19Queremos awardar eso a Wells y a Wells' familia.
00:24Wells' es up there looking down at his mom and his sister, his family.
00:29So I would ask his mother Allison and sister Paige, if Paige and Allison came up,
00:35we will present them with not only the medal, but we'll also present them with a very important designation,
00:43very, very important. Please.
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02:21whose concept it was to prepare a proposal
02:25to bring to the president for this honor
02:29and for Congressman Mike Lawler
02:31who did so much to keep the energy going
02:35and bring it to the attention of the president.
02:38Really, thank you.
02:43Walking into this site
02:46and seeing all the faces of the firefighters lost
02:49is really just so powerful and moving
02:53and the work that the Siller Institute does
02:57through Tunnel to Towers
02:58is so important to keep knowledge going
03:02of what happened on September 11th.
03:05So we really, we salute you, Frank,
03:07and your organization for this great work.
03:11That Wells' light still shines brilliantly today
03:14even after 25 years
03:16is testament to his legacy of courage,
03:20compassion, and love for humanity
03:22that continues to inspire and uplift others.
03:26Wells, however, would not have been able
03:28to do what he did as effectively on 9-11
03:30if it had not been for the training
03:33and experience he gained
03:34as a member of Empire Hook and Ladder Company
03:36number one of Upper Nyack.
03:39Empire is a volunteer company
03:41and the members are fully trained firefighters.
03:43They have other jobs and responsibilities,
03:47businesses to run,
03:48and their own families.
03:50But when the alarm goes off
03:51at any time, day or night,
03:53they respond to the call
03:54to save life and property.
03:57This is a calling.
03:59And Wells,
04:00following in the footsteps of his father,
04:02Jefferson,
04:03joined Empire at the age of 16.
04:06He was no longer an equities trader on 9-11.
04:09He was a firefighter.
04:12Members of Empire Hook and Ladder Company
04:14have joined us today,
04:15and I would like to recognize and thank them.
04:17If you would please stand
04:18where you are.
04:19There they are.
04:20Wonderful.
04:22Thank you, gentlemen.
04:25Such a support.
04:28My family has grown over the years.
04:30Not only my own family,
04:32but the family of friends.
04:33Wells grew up with Boston College friends
04:36and the fire department.
04:38We're all like one big family,
04:40and it's such a beautiful thing.
04:43Wells continued his spiritual growth
04:45in service at Boston College,
04:46whose motto is men and women for others.
04:49In the months that followed 9-11,
04:51we established the Wells-Remy Crowther
04:53Charitable Trust
04:54and continue with our work today,
04:56both charitable and educational.
05:00Over 10 years working with a team
05:02of distinguished educators
05:04led by Vernoy Paolini,
05:06the Red Bandana Project was created.
05:08Social and emotional learning lessons
05:10on leadership,
05:12caring for others,
05:13team,
05:14the power of one,
05:15bridging divides,
05:16forgiveness,
05:17and carpe diem
05:18were the subjects
05:20for elementary through high school students.
05:23This year,
05:24the Red Bandana Project
05:25has been updated
05:26and digitized
05:27by Dr. Kevin Holbrook,
05:28who is here today as well.
05:30Thank you, Dr. Holbrook.
05:36These lessons are available
05:38for downloading free of charge
05:39on our website,
05:41wellscrowthertrust.org.
05:43As I travel around the United States
05:45speaking at schools,
05:46I see firsthand
05:47how young people are impacted
05:49and inspired by Wells.
05:51His example and legacy
05:53to be better,
05:54kinder,
05:55and more caring of others.
05:5725 years after September 11th,
05:59his life continues to remind us
06:01of something very simple.
06:03In moments when others need us,
06:05each of us has the power
06:07to choose courage,
06:09compassion,
06:09and service.
06:12That's the real meaning
06:13of the Red Bandana.
06:14To be courageous.
06:16To find the good.
06:18To be the good.
06:20Again, thank you,
06:21Mr. President.
06:22We are profoundly grateful
06:23for your very special honor of Wells.
06:26Thank you.
06:27Thank you.
06:28Gracias.
