As stories began to emerge from the survivors of the South Tower
of the World Trade Center, several mentioned a mysterious young man
who stepped out of the smoke and horror to lead them to safety. They
did not know who this man was who saved their lives, but this they
did remember: wrapped around his mouth and nose was a red bandanna.
For 76 minutes, the man in the red bandanna barked orders, and led
people to safety down stairwells. He said, “I found the stairs,
follow me.” He carried one woman down fifteen flights of stairs—on
his back, while leading others to safety, urged them to keep going
down, then headed back up.
Upstairs, a badly injured woman was sitting on a radiator when the
man with the red bandanna over his face came running across the room
and said, “Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to
safety.” Then he led several survivors to a stairwell that took
them to safety. He was never seen alive again.
Six months later, on March 19, 2002, the body of the man with the
red bandanna was found intact alongside firefighters in a makeshift
command center in the South Tower lobby, buried under 110 stories
of rubble.
THE STORY COMES OUT
Slowly the story began to emerge. Welles Crowther graduated from
Boston College where he played lacrosse, always carrying his trademark
red bandanna—his dad carried a blue bandanna. In high school
Welles was the kid who would feed the puck to the hockey team’s
lowest-scoring player, hoping to give his teammate his first goal.
At 16 he became a junior volunteer firefighter, following in his
dad’s footsteps. After college he joined Sandler O’Neil
and Partners and worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower. He
always carried change to give to street people. His dream was to become
a firefighter or public servant. On Sept. 11, at the age of 24, Welles
Crowther became both, and also a hero—the "man in the red
bandanna."
“Follow me. I know the way out. I will lead you to safety.”
Welles was willing: willing to serve and to make a sacrifice for
the good of others.
He was also prepared: he trained so when the time came he was ready.
Twenty-five percent of Secret Service duty is training— their
credo: “repetitive training overcomes the negatives of self-sacrifice.”
Both willing and prepared, Welles did not miss his moment. He went
up while everyone else was coming down.
Richard Foster wrote, “Superficiality is the curse of our age....
The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent
people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” Welles was that
kind of man. Are you?
We have a great need. We need leaders willing to go up while everyone
else is coming down—to rescue men and lead them to the safety
of the cross of Christ. The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna is offered
to people who are willing to train, serve, and make a sacrifice to
engage every man in America with a credible offer of Christ and the
resources to grow.
Brother Lawrence said, “I tell you that this sweet and loving
gaze of God insensibly kindles a divine fire in the soul which is
set ablaze so ardently with the love of God that one is obliged to
perform exterior acts to moderate it.” Having heard about Welles,
I know that I can never be happy unless I go up while others are coming
down. Will you join me?
CALLING MEN TO FOLLOW
We need a legion of men who are passionate about calling men to the
great adventure of following Jesus. We need men like Jeremiah, “If
I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’
his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I
am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot” (Jeremiah 20:9).
We need men willing to challenge the idols of the age, willing to
show other men the foolishness of chasing money, power, sex, pleasure,
or relationships when they have the option of following Christ. We
need men who will say with Paul, “It’s all trash compared
to the thirst-quenching joy of knowing Jesus” (Philippians 3:7
ff). We need men willing to say to other men, “You are wasting
your time unless you are losing your life for Christ’s sake.” Our hearts were made for God and nothing will make us happy except
Him.
Men without Christ are in a burning building, desperate for a way
of escape. They need a leader who will lead them to the safety of
the cross—to rescue them.
YOUR INITIATION
Are you someone who is willing to go up while others are coming down?
If so, it is our privilege and honor to invite you to be part of The
Fellowship of the Red Bandanna. Do you accept? If yes, and we were
together in person, I would now personally hand you a red bandanna
and a copy of this story.
Since we're not together in person, to complete your initiation into
The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna...
RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY RED BANDANNA
When you register, if you check the appropriate box we will send
you a complimentary red bandanna to commemorate your membership (while
supplies last, or you can go to a local party supply store to purchase
one). Many men have been framing their bandannas with a copy of the
story.
When you register, you can also elect to receive regular emails from
Man in the Mirror to educate you about us, the Christian men’s
movement, and resources to help you reach more men.
INDUCT OTHERS
If you are a leader, once registered you are hereby authorized to
initiate other leaders into The Fellowship of the Red Bandanna. Please
note that the fellowship is for leaders who are giving themselves
to reaching other men. Find suggestions for how to conduct your own
initiation ceremonies at www.redbandanna.org.
OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST
Welles favorite number was 19. That was the number on his sports
uniforms. That was the date in March, 2002 when his remains were found.
His father, Jeff, had the number 19 tattooed over his heart.
When Jeff and Alison, father and mother to Welles, went through personal
effects in his apartment they found an application to the FDNY. It
was two-thirds completed.
Welles was survived by his parents and two younger sisters, Honor
and Paige.
See a powerpoint presentation with pictures of Welles keyed to the
story above at www.redbandanna.org.
The website picture of Welles with the FDNY firefighter was taken
on a fire boat by his father Jeff. Welles insisted that the World
Trade Center be captured in the background.
Missing from the Boston College graduation photo—Welles’ mother was cropped out of the picture.
More than 1,000 people crammed the Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack,
N.Y. for his memorial service, and the street had to be closed outside
to accommodate the overflow crowd and the fire trucks.
Compiled from news reports and personal discussions with Alison Crowther.
APPLICATION
