Boise Man Reflects on 9/11 Return to New York, Delivering Idaho's Support
Matthew Shapiro, a Boise resident and Brooklyn native, is reflecting on his journey back to New York City approximately one month after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Shapiro, who has lived in Boise for over 30 years, felt compelled to return to his hometown to witness its recovery and deliver messages of support from Idaho. Before his trip, he collected letters from students at Longfellow Elementary School for New York firefighters and gathered signatures from Boise firefighters, Boise's mayor, and Idaho's governor on a state flag. Upon arriving in New York, Shapiro presented the flag to FDNY officials and delivered the student letters to a Manhattan firehouse that had lost a firefighter. He also visited Ground Zero, observing the still-smoldering site, and documented the city's recovery on video. Shapiro interviewed firefighters and community members, including a Brooklyn bookstore owner, who shared stories of unity in the aftermath of the attacks. He expressed that he still struggles to comp...
