History is full of pain & suffering because..

it is concerned with the actions of human beings and people throughout history inflict pain. Today of all days it is only right to write something about 9/11 - a combination of two simple numbers that represent huge pain and suffering.

Amongst the thousands of stories that surround this tragic event 25 years ago, I am always moved to remember the very first casualty recorded from the Twin Towers on that day. Father Mychal Fallon Judge OFM was not the first to die but his name was recorded as the first casualty.

Father Mychal was a Catholic Priest who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department - he was trusted, well known and well liked. Father Mychal donned his helmet and rushed to the site as soon as news reached him of the first impact on the North Tower. He entered the lobby and began praying over the bodies of the injured and dead - he heard the steady and consistent thumps of those who were jumping from the top floors as they hit the roofs over the lobby and he was there an hour later when the South Tower collapsed. When it came down, the huge volume of debris smashed into the whole area of the streets and around the north lobby and debris thundered into the lobby killing dozens of fire - fighters and civilians. Father Mychal was fatally struck in the head - moments before he had been heard shouting "Jesus please end this now!"

Through the dust and rubble at 10.28 and shortly before the North Tower also collapsed, his body was recognised and five members of the NYPD, NYFD and a civilian named John Maguire carried his body out of the lobby and away to St Peter's Catholic Church. He was recorded as Victim 0001.

Father Mychal being taken out of the North Tower moments before it too collpased.

Many memorials were erected to his memory including a bronze statue, a street was renamed after him in his honour as well as a ferry. His FD helmet was given to Pope John Paul II.