Lawler Remembers Welles Crowther as President Trump Awards Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom at 9/11 White House Ceremony

Washington, D.C. – 9/8/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) attended an event at the White House that President Donald J. Trump hosted for 9/11 first responders and officials. The President posthumously presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the family of Welles Remy Crowther, the Upper Nyack native and volunteer firefighter known as the “Man in the Red Bandana.” A 21-foot steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower was also displayed on the White House Ellipse as part of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Steel Across America tour. Rep. Lawler released the following statement: “On September 11, 2001, when terror struck our nation, Welles Remy Crowther did what he was raised to do: he ran toward danger and answered the call, displaying a heroism that would come to define his life. Wearing his trademark red bandana, he saved upwards of 18 lives that day and inspired millions of Americans with his courage.” “25 years later, Welles is receiving the recognition he justly deserves. I am extremely grateful to President Trump for honoring Welles and the Crowther family, especially his mother Alison. By bestowing the highest civilian honor on Welles Remy Crowther, we also honor every firefighter, police officer, EMT, and first responder who ran toward danger that day to save lives.” “Many never came home, and thousands more have lived with the physical and emotional consequences of their service ever since. Welles showed us what it means to put others before yourself. What a legacy worth remembering, and one America will never forget,” concluded Congressman Lawler. Welles Remy Crowther was a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter from Upper Nyack, New York. On September 11, 2001, after the South Tower was struck, Crowther used his trademark red bandana to protect himself from the smoke and helped lead survivors to safety from the 78th-floor sky lobby. He repeatedly returned to help others before losing his life when the South Tower collapsed. Survivors later identified Crowther as the “Man in the Red Bandana” and credited him with helping save upwards of 18 lives that day. His story has since become a lasting symbol of courage and selflessness. Congressman Lawler has led the effort to secure national recognition for Crowther. On September 12, 2025, Lawler joined Alison Crowther, local firefighters, and Rockland County officials a t the Nyack Fire Department to call on President Trump to award Crowther the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A day earlier, at a Yankees game commemorating the 24th anniversary of September 11th, Lawler presented President Trump with a red bandana from the Crowther family. President Trump announced in May 2026 that Crowther would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lawler also introduced H.R. 5519, the Welles Remy Crowther Congressional Gold Medal Act , bipartisan legislation to posthumously award Crowther the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his bravery, heroism, and sacrifice. The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, the Problem Solvers Caucus, and America250 have endorsed the legislation. Since taking office in January 2023, Lawler has made supporting 9/11 heroes, survivors, victims’ families, and first responders a priority. He has fought to secure permanent funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, co-led legislation to strengthen the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, and introduced the Justice for 9/11 Act to ensure the September 11th plotters face trial and that the death penalty remains available. Lawler has also introduced the September 11th Day of Remembrance Act to make September 11th a federal holiday, joined efforts to strengthen 9/11 education in schools nationwide, and cosponsored legislation supporting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. He will be attending memorials throughout New York’s 17th Congressional District this year to honor the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, as he has done every year since becoming an elected official, to draw awareness to a district that continues to live with the human cost of September 11th. Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs. ###