One of the most touching stories of September 11, 2001, is that of Arnold and Keith Roma, a father and son who headed to the World Trade Center to help after the terrorist attacks.
Arnold Roma, a paramedic, volunteer firefighter and former police officer, got a call from his 27-year-old son, Keith, who was with the New York City Fire Department. They agreed to meet in Manhattan, but they never spoke again.
Keith was inside the North Tower, where he was helping to evacuate civilians. According to his colleagues, he had pulled several people to safety just before the South Tower collapsed. Then, as debris and dust covered the area, Keith disappeared. A short time later, the North Tower also collapsed.
Of the 16 members of the Fire Patrol who arrived that morning at the World Trade Center, Keith Roma was the only one who did not return.
Arnold, after spending three days in the hospital, returned to Ground Zero and searched for his son in the rubble for 104 days. Despite his injuries and breathing problems, he worked up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Christmas Eve 2001, after more than three months of searching, rescue teams found Keith Roma. He was near a group of civilians and, according to rescuers, was believed to be trying to guide them to the exit when the North Tower collapsed.
A father searched for his son for 104 days, while Keith Roma's memory remained connected to the effort to save others on one of the most tragic days in US history.
