"Osama Kiss My Royal Irish Ass" Firefighter Reflects on his Death

Not sure if many of you remember this episode , which occured at NYC's Madison Square Garden, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. It was Saturday October 20th and there was a benefit concert being held in NYC. And as always happens in the aftermath of a tragedy, a regular guy, in this case a NYC Firefighter, speaking from the heart, rallied an arena, a city and the nation. nearly all but the politically correct NY Times loved it.

A NY Observer article summed it up thusly:

"Sooner or later, someone was going to say what New York firefighter Michael Moran said onstage at the benefit concert for New York on Oct. 20. He had lost his older brother, who was a battalion chief, and 12 fellow firefighters from his own Ladder 3 company at the World Trade Center. He was enjoying his first night out after weeks of hard work and dozens of funerals."

"As a cable-television audience of millions watched, Mr. Moran took the microphone and roared, "In the spirit of the Irish people, Osama bin Laden, you can kiss my royal Irish ass!" A politically incorrect pandemonium ensued. Therefore, The New York Times simply did not report it, even though the newspaper covered the concert."

This episode captured many people's imaginations and even inspired a spirited ballad:

Now with the most excellent and righteous death of Osama Bin Laden, NBC News went to Mike's home in Rockaway Beach NY, to get his reaction.

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

Normally I do not write about personal things, but Mike lives down the street from me with his wife Donna. He now lives in the same home where his fallen brother John had lived. John gave his life on September 11th, last seen entering the towers to serve his city.

Mike has been my friend for over 20 years. He is in fact, my best friend. I was honored to be asked and serve as Best Man at his wedding. May 25, 2002, was a day of great happiness and celebrating for Mike and Donna, after enduring such tragedy.

That day also marked the beginning of a new chapter in a local bachelor's life. It seems Donna had invitied a long time friend, Julie from Kansas City, to attend their wedding. I had never heard of or met Julie before.

Julie moved to Rockaway Beach on May 1, 2003 and we married on October 2, 2004.

I always like to think some good can eventually come tragedy.