Never Forget: Honoring their Legacy

It’s been 25 years since the 9/11 attacks. 

Few moments have shaped me, and I’m sure many of you reading this, more than the attacks that day. 

I grew up in a small beach community called Breezy Point, NY, at the tip of the Rockaways in Queens. It’s known as the Irish Riviera, a special community disproportionately made up of first responders, cops, firefighters, nurses, and many others who commute into Manhattan for work. 

Our small community was one of the hardest hit on September 11th, losing 29 of our neighbors that day. 

One of those neighbors, Lieutenant Kevin Dowdell, was a close family friend and the father of my brother’s best friend, James Dowdell, and his older brother Patrick. 

I’ll never forget James coming by on his bicycle, letting us know they hadn’t heard from his father yet and giving my mom a hug.  

James went on to follow in his father’s footsteps, joining the FDNY and eventually rising to the same rank of Lieutenant. His brother Patrick attended West Point and subsequently served two combat deployments, first in Iraq and later in Afghanistan. 

You’d be hard pressed to meet a more selfless family. James and Patrick have each carried forward their father’s legacy of service. 

Earlier this year, James approached me to let me know he was now serving on the board of the Visionary Leadership Council of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. 

He shared their mission of educating the next generation, many of whom were not alive on 9/11, about the sacrifice of so many and the incredible unity that followed the attacks. As part of that conversation, James brought the idea of creating something through Rhoback to help commemorate the 25th anniversary and support that mission. 

Together, we designed a collection in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and supporting the Never Forget Fund. All profits from the collection will go directly to the Never Forget Fund at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, benefiting their mission; to preserve the stories of 9/11 for future generations and carry forward the courage, compassion, resilience, unity, and service that followed. 

Through this partnership, we had the opportunity to meet Chris Mascali of the FDNY, who also lost his father on 9/11 and subsequently followed in his father’s footsteps of giving back through service. We also learned more about the incredible work of the Museum, the Never Forget Fund, and many of the families that were most affected that day.  

As we approach the 25th Anniversary, I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more and share the link below.  

Our hope is that, through stories like those of the Dowdells, the Mascalis, and so many others, a new generation can come to know not only what was lost that day, but also the courage, service, and unity that followed. Learning more about the true character of our neighbors and country. 

Twenty-five years later, those stories still feel worth telling, and worth passing on. 

To learn more, please visit neverforget.org.

-Kevin Hubbard

Rhoback Co-Founder