The dogs of 9/11: the other heroes‏

These are the dogs that worked the trade center that are still alive but retired; they are heroes too. Their eyes say everything you need to know about them. Just amazing creatures.

True heroes of 9/11 still with us today...

Moxie, 13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler, Mark Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days.

Tara, 16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts, arrived at the World Trade Center on the night of the 11th. The dog and her handler Lee Prentiss were there for eight days.

Kaiser, 12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in the rubble.

Bretagne and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days.

Guinness, 15, from Highland, California, started work at the site with Sheila McKee on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11 days.

Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days.

Red, 11, from Annapolis, Maryland, went with Heather Roche to the Pentagon from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines.

Abigail

Tuff -- Abigail, above, was deployed on the evening of September 17, searching for 10 days while Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00 pm on the day of attack to start working early the next day.

Handler Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from their home in Denver on September 24 and searched for five days.

Scout and another unknown dog lie among the rubble at Ground Zero, just two of nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search for survivors.

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During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors. Now, ten years on, just 12 of these heroic canines survive, and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.
The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.

Traveling across nine states in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland, Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas, 34, captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their homes where they still live with their handlers, a full decade on from 9/11. Their stories have now been compiled in a book, called Retrieved, which is published on Friday, the tenth anniversary of the attacks. Noted for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs, Charlotte wanted 'Retrieved' to mark not only the anniversary of the September 2001 attacks, but also as recognition for some of the first responders and their dogs.

"I felt this was a turning point, especially for the dogs, who although are not forgotten, are not as prominent as the human stories involved," explained Charlotte, who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam. "They speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective."

Charles Mayfield

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Proud to be an American

In remembrance of 9/11/2001 and looking forward to our future.....

"Home of the Brave", performed by Eric Dodge

"In God We Still Trust", performed by Diamond Rio

Our belated anniversary dinner cruise!

We purchased vouchers to take a discounted dinner/dance cruise on the Potomac River for our 30th anniversary (on the Spirit of Washington). We'd hoped to go on our actual anniversary (the 18th), but were unable to get a reservation until the 28th. Oh, well, waiting a few extra days wasn't THAT big of a deal!!

Some pictures from our trip:

The "Spirit of Washington"

Our table

A view of the buffet before it opened

More of the dining area

A view of the Washington Monument and DC Harbor (yes, it was a hot, hazy DC day!)

Haines Point and the cherry trees

I didn't know we had a paddlewheel boat on the Potomac! Guess I'll need to go check this one out! (Appropriately called "Cherry Blossom"!)

The chapel at the military base we passed

A view of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from the ship; I cross that bridge many, many times each year going to the birth center. It was interesting getting to see it from a different vantage point.

The sun setting over Alexandria, VA

I need to find out what this pretty building is!

A VERY old lighthouse under renovation

National Harbor Place

Nelson and I outside, enjoying the views

Osprey nesting on the buoy

Ship flag

Another sunset view, looking towards Alexandria, VA

The marina at the National Harbor -- how the "other 1%" spend their money!!

The sunset this particular evening was spectacular.

Sunset over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Alexandria, VA

Statue entitled "The Awakening", now located in National Harbor Place (was moved from Haines Point). Click on the photo to get a better look at the sculpture -- it's pretty cool!

View of the lights at National Airport from the top of the boat

And yes, a good time was had by all!

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