THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Friday marks a dark day in American history: 25 years since 9/11, and a Central Florida man who played a pivotal role at Ground Zero is sharing the stories of first responders and his experiences.
Chaplain Gary Kadow has collected hundreds of pieces documenting the event, haunting reminders of the sights, smells and sounds.
“Hell. When we’re children, we hear about Hell. The fire, the brimstone, the smell, the sulfur, everything. That is exactly what 9/11 was like,” said Kadow.
Some of the most iconic pictures Kadow took himself.
“I was there for hours after the first plane hit. Two state troopers came to my house and escorted me to Albany,” he recalled. “And it was still burning.”
Before he called The Villages home, the Buffalo, New York native served as a chaplain under several state and federal administrations.
Initially tapped by former New York Gov. George Pataki that day to help coordinate rescue efforts, that mission quickly turned to recovery, Kadow said.
“I could see the most horrendous things you could possibly imagine,” Kadow said. “People melted to the ground and children who buildings had crushed and just unbelievable things.”
Days of digging through debris searching for survivors and remains took a toll on him.
“We made a pathway to get down to try and recover the remains of those that were down there. You would walk in (and) the ground no more than 20, 30 feet away, would split open like a volcano, and flames would shoot out 30, 40 feet in the air,” Kadow explained of the chilling scene. “You knew walking down there that you may not come out again.”
Ten days at Ground Zero prompted Kadow to seek counseling and eventually journal about his experience.
He later turned that journal into a book, “10 Days of Hell and Heroes”, sharing his experience and remembering the heroes of 9/11 — from the steel workers, first responders and volunteers to the search dogs.
“Two of the dogs died that first day. A shepherd and a Rottweiler. Their paws were cut to shreds in that debris pile,” Kadow recalled.
The 80-year-old shared those stories Saturday, Sept. 5, during his “9/11 Remembrance” presentation at Eisenhower Tower in The Villages.
Delivering hope, healing and light for one of the nation’s darkest days.
“My whole world changed at that point. But I have no regrets whatsoever,” he said. “We get through it, we will make it. Just don’t you give up.”