GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Bob Seidl was in the middle of a HazMat course at Schneider’s Green Bay Training Center when the World Trade Center towers were brought down by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.
The class was in stunned silence as they watched the second plane hit the South Tower.
Seidl was one of three Schneider drivers who traveled to ground zero.
“Immediately contacted Schnieder and asked, ‘hey, if you guys are going to run a relief load, I want to drive it,'” said Seidl.
People from around Northeast Wisconsin wanted to help and brought donations to Green Bay’s East Town Mall to fill the trucks.
“They were handing over, you know, people who couldn’t afford it, handing over like $200 pairs of work boots and gloves, really nice gloves. Little kids were coming up with their piggy banks and here, give it to someone who can use it,” said Seidl.
Seidl left for New York City hauling 45,000 pounds of donations.
“Along the way, you saw that overpasses were decked out with American Flags and banners, and you’d see people with flags in their hands, just the unity that people were coming together with,” said Seidl.
Seidl says the Schneider trucks were one of the first in the country to arrive with relief supplies.
“We handed things out, and FBI people were coming up, and first responders, and just everybody was coming and was so thankful for the people of Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin had sent them to us,” said Seidl.
During Seidl’s journey, he attached two small American flags to his hood mirrors.
He’s kept those flags for the past 20 years.
“Every Sept. 11, I usually get them out and put them in a place of prominence for a couple of hours as a remembrance of what happened,” said Seidl.
Seidl says the work of Schneider and donations from the people of Northeast Wisconsin hold extraordinary meaning to the people of New York.
To prove it, the New York Fire Commissioner sent a piece of scrap metal and a letter of appreciation to the people of Wisconsin, saying ‘we will never forget your support and kindness in our darkest hour.’
Bob Seidl also documented his experiences in a blog. To see it, visit the Schneider website.
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