By JOSEPH KELLARD
Beckwith is now known as the firefighter who stood beside President George Bush during his first visit ground zero and spoke through a bullhorn to a crowd of rescue workers. Just like the three firefighters photographed raising the American flag at that site, Beckwith, too, was unknowingly catapulted into a recognizable symbol.
This new life that befell him would have never happened had he not overcome the shock and despondence he felt from the horrific events he watched unfold on his TV three days before.
"When the buildings went down, I couldn't believe what I saw," Beckwith said, fighting through an emotional lump that formed in his throat. "It took the wind right out of me because I knew we had guys in there doing their jobs and we lost a lot of them. And it took me two days to focus in my head what had actually happened."
That Friday, Sept. 14, Beckwith decided he needed to participate in the rescue efforts at ground zero, despite his elder status and retirement from the FDNY over seven years ago.
"I told my wife and two of my children that I was going down there, that I had to help out. I knew a couple of men who were buried under the rubble. They tried to stop me, telling me I was nuts to go down; that I was too old. I went down anyway. I felt the need to go down and help out,
