A special tribute honoring the victims of the September 11 attacks has taken shape in Cornwall, spotlighting a local hero whose actions are credited with saving countless lives 25 years ago.
Hayle Hosts Community ‘Poppy Production Line’
The Veterans Charity invited residents to Hayle to participate in a “poppy production line” this week. Volunteers used approximately 6,000 scallop shells to hand-craft 2,977 individual poppies—one for every life lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93.
Remembering Rick Rescorla: A Cornish Hero
Among the 2,977 victims was Rick Rescorla, a native of Hayle. As the director of security for Morgan Stanley at the World Trade Center, Rescorla implemented rigorous evacuation drills that proved critical on the morning of the attacks. After the first plane struck the North Tower, he calmly directed thousands of employees to safety through the South Tower’s stairwells, famously singing Cornish songs to keep morale high. He perished when the building collapsed after returning to ensure everyone was out.
Charity Calls Project a ‘Fitting Tribute’
Iain Henderson, a trustee of The Veterans Charity, emphasized the significance of the community effort. He said the project was a “fitting tribute” to Rescorla and everyone else who died on that day.
The completed poppies will form a visual memorial, connecting the coastal community of Hayle to a global tragedy and celebrating the enduring legacy of one of its own sons.
