President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Remy Crowther, the Boston College graduate immortalized as the "Man in the Red Bandana" after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The announcement came during a campaign stop in Suffern, New York, where Trump called Crowther’s mother to the stage and praised her son’s courage. Crowther, who was 24 when he died after repeatedly re-entering the South Tower to guide coworkers and strangers to safety, has long been honored by survivors and at Boston College.
As reported by CBS Boston, WBZ-TV’s Logan Hall captured the moment at a Rockland Community College rally, where Trump said, "We are posthumously awarding Welles the Presidential Medal of Freedom." The station noted that Trump called Crowther "a legend" as the family stood with him on stage and reacted emotionally to the announcement.
How He Became The Man In The Red Bandana
Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter and 1999 Boston College graduate, was working on the 104th floor of the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum recounts how Crowther used a red bandana to shield his face as he led survivors down stairwells, then turned around and climbed back up again and again to try to reach more people. The bandana, now part of the museum’s collection, has become the enduring symbol of his actions. Survivors and memorial programs have credited him with saving scores of people and have carried his story forward through books, a film and campus events.
Local Campaign Led By Lawler And Family
Local officials and Crowther’s family had been pushing for national recognition for months, and Rep. Mike Lawler publicly urged the president to honor Crowther while also announcing plans to pursue a Congressional Gold Medal, according to local coverage. As part of that effort, Lawler presented a red bandana to President Trump, a gesture that helped tie the local campaign directly to the White House. At the Suffern event, that push culminated in Trump’s remarks, and Alison Crowther told the crowd that her son’s example of courage and service continues to inspire communities all over the country.
Legacy On Campus And Beyond
Boston College honors Crowther’s memory every year with its Red Bandanna Run and a dedicated Red Bandanna Game, with the university noting that these events support the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust. The school has kept Crowther’s story woven into campus life and community service, while the museum’s exhibits and BC’s traditions together secure his place in the broader story of 9/11 remembrance. The presidential recognition is likely to bring renewed attention to that legacy as the nation moves toward the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11.
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