President Donald Trump has announced that he will posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Remy Crowther, the 9/11 hero remembered as the “Man in the Red Bandana.” The announcement was made during a rally in New York, where Trump said the honor would be given ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Crowther, who was 24 years old when the attacks took place, worked as an equities trader on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center and also served as a volunteer firefighter. He became one of the most widely remembered figures from Sept. 11 after survivors said a man wearing a red bandana guided them to safety through smoke, wreckage and panic inside the building.
According to accounts preserved by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Crowther made multiple trips to the sky lobby of the South Tower, helping as many people as he could before the building collapsed. Some reports say he saved as many as 18 lives that morning. His red bandana, which he used to cover his nose and mouth, later became the symbol of his courage and selflessness.
Trump said the award was being given at the request of Rep. Mike Lawler, who had urged the president to recognize Crowther’s heroism before the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Lawler has also supported efforts to honor Crowther at the congressional level. During the rally, Trump described Crowther’s actions as extraordinary and praised his bravery in the face of danger.
Crowther’s mother, Alison Crowther, also appeared at the event and called the award a “huge honor.” She has spent years speaking publicly about her son’s legacy, sharing his story across the United States and abroad. She said that even 25 years later, Welles’ light continues to inspire people, especially young audiences who hear about his actions and are moved by the example he set.
The story of Welles Crowther has endured because it combines the chaos of 9/11 with a deeply personal act of courage. He had left a voicemail for his mother after the attacks began, telling her he was okay, but he later died in the collapse of the tower. His body was recovered from the rubble, and his sacrifice has since become a defining part of the memory of that day.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States. Crowther’s posthumous recognition places his name alongside other Americans whose actions are remembered as symbols of service, sacrifice and national character.
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