My cousin, My hero.

No American need be told to remember. For an American that does not remember is not an American at all!

Everyone has a story of where they were September 11, 2001. naturally I have mine.
But I will not bore anyone with the insignificant details of my meaningless day, Nor will I attempt to tell a story that matters not to anyone including myself.

What I will attempt to do is tell another story. A story of of a young, caring, brave beyond belief, Amazing individual that if only God blessed all of us with the heart of this man the world over would be a better place.

His name is Adam David Rand. Adam was born to help people, he was born to save lives. Even as a child when the sirens of the local fire dept. were close enough he would run towards them without fear, Chasing down the truck as if they had left without him. He knew! He was meant to be in that Bellmore N.Y. volunteer fire engine.
It was a long wait, But when he was finally old enough he joined that fire dept. Naturally his wonderful and fun loving personality quickly made him a fire house favorite among his fellow fire fighters. As the years passed and he would work with his father and brother installing ceramic tile, marble and granite he always spoke of the FDNY. It was only a matter of time before he passed the test with flying colors and become a member of New York's Bravest. And even being on the job did not stop him from continuing his work as a volunteer in the Bellmore fire dept. Training cadets in his spare time. See, It wasn't just a job with benefits for Adam, It was a calling.

Adam went on in the FDNY doing side jobs and favors for all the right people just to be placed in one of the hardest company's to be a member of, No quiet nights for him at the fire house, He craved the action.

He was a true hero. And long before giving his life to save others that September morning he was a hero to me. He is the reason I begged my parents for my first guitar in third grade. God, I looked up to him so much like many others did around him.
He truly was just the kind of person you wanted to be around, and be like.

My family and I miss him dearly every day, Every family gathering, and every special occasion. He was his mother and fathers youngest of three. He was a brother, a nephew, an uncle, a cousin, a fiancee and a friend.

But more so than all of those he IS our hero.

We love you, And will never forget you.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ADAM DAVID RAND
7/23/71 - 9/11/01