Why We Close on September 11th
Almost 20 years ago, I had the privilege of serving as a New York City paramedic. Although the work was difficult and the hours were long, I was continually impressed by the commitment of the men and women I worked with. They wanted to do the job well, serve their community, and be part of something larger — and they were. The NYC-EMS system was able to handle extraordinary challenges because of that individual dedication and collective resolve. And it faced one of its greatest challenges on September 11th, 2001.
Stationed on the southwest corner of the World Trade Center, I remember watching the first tower come down, seemingly directly on top of us, and knocking all of us off our feet. First the shock, then the confusion, and then the realization that there was plenty of work to be done. Almost immediately, everyone on the ground started to link up and make a plan — gather the wounded, move people west to the Hudson, and provide care and comfort as best we could.
In the weeks that followed, working on “the Pile,” the best parts of our humanity came through. Military members and police officers protected the area, firefighters worked countless hours on rescue and recovery, medical personnel offered support, and thousands of others provided food, shelter, clothing, and more.
The experience of service I had during that time eventually led me to join the military, and to afterwards begin a law firm with public service at its core. Of the values we hold close, the closest is “Do Right” — we work to benefit our clients, our community, and our planet. Beyond pro bono legal work or financial donations, we do our best to get out of the office and into the world: planting trees, adopting a street, working at a homeless shelter, giving blood, and more.
September 11th is a sacred day for us — there are no calls, no emails, no clicking keyboards, and no focus other than to carry on the legacy of those who came before us, and to strengthen our own resolve to be the very best Americans we can be. Every member of our team has the opportunity to be a part of our firm service project, or they may plan their own activities for the day.
Please join us this September 11th in reflection, and make your own contribution to your community. Volunteer time, donate resources, offer support, or create your own project — just make September 11th a day of service in the most meaningful way possible.
James Creedon
Managing Principal
Creedon PLLC
P.S. If a truly urgent legal matter arises, and you need to speak with anyone at our firm, please call our main number (972-850-6864) and ask to speak with me personally.