By Laura Lane
A member of Ladder Company 120 in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, he headed to the city to help. "I didn't know I could run so fast with all my gear on," McKeon said. "We lost 342 fire fighters that day. I made it."
McKeon, 55, of Merrick, who is now retired after 24 years with the fire department, said he'd always been involved in helping others. Before Sept. 11, the New York City Fire Department had aided the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, which helps veterans with spinal cord injuries. The department could not longer support the organization after Sept. 11, since city firefighters needed help so desperately.
While attending a fire department reunion a few years ago, McKeon heard a member mention a non-profit organization that the department was considering supporting, and he was intrigued. The Wounded Warrior Project provides programs and services to severely injured service members from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and the global war on terrorism. It helps soldiers transition from active duty to civilian life.
"He told us about this group that took care of soldiers coming home from the war, and that's all he needed to say," McKeon said. "When Sept. 11 happened, we fought here. They're carrying on our mission in Iraq. But, unfortunately, too many are coming home severely injured, especially with amputations."
McKeon starting volunteering for the group in 2003. He spends quite a bit of his time helping the organization, traveling at his own expense to encourage others to join.
"The Wounded Warrior Project raises awareness for the needs of the severely injured and tries to help them re-integrate into society to lead fruitful lives," McKeon explained. "They provide a whole spectrum of services."
The organization offers skiing, sailing, scuba diving and fishing programs for wounded veterans. The group also helps veterans further their education, as well as helps them find jobs.
McKeon, who is involved in four to five of the group's annual events, said he does what he does for the troops. One of his four sons, Tom, is a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. His brother is a Vietnam veteran.
"I don't want this to be another Vietnam," McKeon said. "We want the soldiers to be welcomed home. When they first came home in 2003 and were admitted to Walter Reed, they couldn't even call home without being charged. That's disgusting."
McKeon said he loves helping the injured veterans and spends about a third of his time each year doing so. "I had a triple amputee on a ski board smiling like he won the lottery," McKeon said. "He was having the time of his life. If that doesn't make you happy, I don't know what will."
Two years ago Marijane Camilleri decided to help the non-profit organization, too. The Camilleri family owns the Dear Little Dollies Ltd. in Bellmore. "We were looking on the Internet for a worthy charity, and the Wounded Warrior Project looked like it was having an effect," she said. "The wounded come back sometimes with nothing, and the Wounded Warrior Project helped them feel more human."
The Dear Little Dollies Ltd. donated and raffled off dolls valued at $2,000 a piece at the Bellmore Family Street Fair. The business raised about $6,000 last year and will do it again this year.
Louis Camilleri, 83, has owned the Dear Little Dollies Ltd. for 20 years. He served in World War II and was a Navy reservist for five years. He's proud to be able to help the servicemen and women.
"Anything that is helpful to our veterans is a good thing," Camilleri said. "When we drew the raffle, one of the wounded guys came. He had been badly burned overseas, but was making progress. Seeing him reinforced it for me that we are doing the right thing being involved in this organization."
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