9/11 survivor strives to promote memorial

By: Jeremy Slayton | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: September 12, 2009

Mickey Kross was in the middle of one of America's most terrifying days following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

A now-retired lieutenant with the Fire Department of New York, Kross was among the first responders that day at Ground Zero, where two planes were flown into the World Trade Center. He was in the North Tower helping survivors escape the weakening building.

When that tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m., Kross was on the fourth floor. He escaped with just minor injuries.

Eight years later, he borrows a term from wounded soldiers and refers to Sept. 11, 2001 as his alive day "the anniversary of the day I was almost killed," he said yesterday in the media center at Richmond International Raceway. "Some reason, I'm here eight years later."

In the time that followed 9/11, Kross spent many months helping with the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. He currently is assisting with the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

This weekend, Kross is a part of RIR and NASCAR's commemoration of the eighth anniversary of 9/11. He led the Pledge of Allegiance before the start of the Nationwide Virginia 529 College Savings 250 and presented RIR President Doug Fritz with an American flag that flew above Ground Zero. That flag was raised Thursday and will remain flying above the infield for tonight's Chevy Rock & Roll 400.

Drivers are also getting into the spirit of remembering those who perished eight years ago. Nationwide driver Benny Gordon unveiled a special paint scheme on his No. 72 Ford, touting the 9/11 Memorial for the Virginia 529 College Savings 250. He qualified in 30th for last night's race.

Gordon, who visited Ground Zero for the first time two years ago, was moved by what he saw. When he realized a Nationwide race was scheduled on the eighth anniversary of 9/11, he thought having a memorial car was a good idea. His Ford Fusion is black, blue and white and features patriotic stars and stripes.

Gordon said yesterday he's trying to create awareness and help promote the museum and memorial being built to honor the nearly 3,000 people who perished during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.

The memorial, which will take up eight of the 16 acres at Ground Zero, is scheduled to open in two years on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The names of those who lost their lives will be inscribed on walls encircling two large pools of water.

Gordon said he approached his primary sponsors, VSI Racing and Samuel & Sons Metals about taking their name off the car to add the 9/11 Memorial. That was a fact he tried to downplay yesterday.

"I haven't said a lot about that. It's more about the memorial than trying to plug my sponsor," Gordon said. "There wasn't any problem about taking their names off the car for this race."

Kross said the memorial will keep the events of Sept. 11, 2001 alive long after he and other survivors are gone.

"The memories will be there, and the young people will know about what happened that day and the sacrifice that so many people made, including 343 of my brothers in the fire department, some very close friends," Kross said.

Contact Jeremy Slayton at (804) 649-6861 or jslayton@timesdispatch.com.