Thursday, May 5, 2011

"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.

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.

10 comments:

Doug NYC GOP said...

Ian - One of my origianl friends from ROS - Good to see you.

Julie is actually from Branson, MO. She was living in KC, when she went to NYC, took up with some Spaniard and never returned.

Scandalous!

Anonymous said...

Doug, great story...pretty wife. Why are you wasting your time talking with us when you could be out writing a book or hanging out with your wife?

jerseyrepublican

Doug NYC GOP said...

Thanks JR - Mike is a great friend and Julie's a terrific wife.

Now about that book....your suggesstion is beyond my reach :)

Anonymous said...

Doug,

Thanks for sharing this story. You make a beautiful couple, too.

-Martha

BOSMAN said...

Doug,

I hope you took Julie out to diner on the 1st to celebrate the day your life changed for the better. Some place discustingly expensive. If not, Put it on your list of must do's!

Mike sounds like a great guy and best friend.
All Americans were Irish the day he spoke those words. He spoke for all of us.

Thanks for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this with us Doug!

zeke

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing these heartwarming stories with us. We need to never forget the pain and suffering of innocents on 9/11, but I am also grateful for the reminder that life is good in spite of tragedy and evil.

I like the saying, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Doug, it seems that you and your friend, Mike, have accomplished this. God bless both of you and your wives.

AZ

Revolution 2012 said...

Thanks for sharing this personal story with us.

With so many things going wrong in the world, It's good to hear about things with happy endings.

Give your wife Julie a BIG HUG from all of us at Right Speak.

Noelle said...

Thank you for this post.

Anonymous said...

I never forgot this moment A true American speaking the unadultrated truth. To all liberals who want to overthrow our country, you can kiss my Irish/Italian ass!