Remembering 9/11: Schneider hauled supplies to Ground Zero

Everybody remembers where he or she was on that fateful day: September 11, 2001. The images and videos still conjure up fresh emotions — particularly for those who were involved in emergency and relief efforts at Ground Zero.

I was among them. My name is Bob Seidl, then a Schneider driver and now a Schneider Team Driver Advisor. Here is my firsthand account of how things transpired:

Operation Noble Eagle

After the towers fell, there was a huge outpouring from the fine people of Northeastern Wisconsin to donate needed items such as bottled water, boots and gloves that the firemen and the FBI needed. I had called Schneider the day the towers fell and volunteered my services to drive relief supplies to Ground Zero if needed. Schneider called me on September 13 and said that the company had donated a trailer to be loaded with supplies headed for Ground Zero.

On September 14, I brought a trailer to the East Town Mall on the east side of Green Bay. When I arrived, there were hundreds of people lined up to donate. Kids were dumping their piggy banks, people were giving multiple pairs of $150+ work boots and thousands of hand-written cards. People stood in line for hours waiting to donate.

The first trailer was full in short order and Vic Morrison brought another empty to fill. That trailer was filled quickly also. The call went out for a third trailer and Scott Delarwell brought another. Within hours, we had collected over 135,000 pounds of donations.

I was approached by several members of the media to ride along with me, and Otis Day from WIXX radio was approved to accompany me to Ground Zero.

The Scene

We headed out and made it into Pennsylvania on the first day, and arrived at the Javits Convention Center just a few blocks from Ground Zero the morning of September 16. The massive pile of debris that had been the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were still burning and smoking.

The New York City Deputy Police Commissioner made sure we were escorted in quickly and easily.

The fine grey ash coated everything. We handed out boots, gloves, water, blankets and other donations for hours, and when everyone had what they needed, we were sent to a nearby warehouse where the rest of the items were unloaded.

The reaction

The firemen, FBI agents and everyone else who was digging in hopes of finding survivors were so very grateful to the people of northeastern Wisconsin that they were actually crying.

Once we were unloaded, the Police Commissioner had his officers give us a police escort right out of Manhattan to the George Washington Bridge and back to Wisconsin. Schneider and the everyday people came through again when the country needed them the most again.

We will never forget.