Welles at the Memorial Labyrinth at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
On one of the darkestbrdays in American history, Welles Remy Crowther lost his life saving lives onbr9/11. The American equities trader led people to safety after terrorists struckbrthe World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
His selfless act ofbrheroism is not forgotten.
Southlake residents Colinbrand Tracey McDevitt were so moved by Crowther's selflessness that they namedbrtheir son Welles in his memory. They even wrote a letter to Crowther's parents askingbrpermission to name their son after Welles.
“Their response wasbrimmediate and an overwhelming yes. They were truly thrilled and grateful thatbrwe wanted to honor their son in that way,” Tracey recalls. “They wrote us abrvery sweet letter for our Welles to read when he was old enough.”
Welles McDevitt, now abrseventh grader at Dawson Middle School, honors Crowther's memory by wearing abrred bandana to school each year on September 11.
On Welles' first day ofbrfifth grade at Eubanks, his social studies teacher Jan Holland asked him to saybrsomething interesting about himself. Welles replied, “I'm named after a hero.”
Holland knew immediatelybrthat he was named after Welles Crowther. Unbeknownst to the McDevitt family,brHolland had already included the story of Welles' efforts on 9/11 in herbrcurriculum.
“From there, we decidedbrit would be wonderful to encourage the staff and students to wear red bandanasbron September 11 to remember Welles Crowther,” says Tracey.
Remembering the Man in the Red Bandana
Each October, thebrMcDevitts travel to Boston College to participate in the annual Red Bandana 5K,bran event that brings together Crowther's family, friends, Boston Collegebralumni, students, faculty and staff to honor his life. Welles has been part ofbrit since he was an infant, his father pushing him in a jogging stroller. Now,brWelles runs the race himself.
“Boston College teachesbrstudents to be men and women for others (after St. Ignatius), and WellesbrCrowther truly lived that motto on that fateful day,” says Tracey. “When webrlearned we were expecting a boy, we truly couldn't think of a better way tobrhonor his memory than to bring another little Welles into the world.”
After last year's 5K,brWelles traveled to New York City with his father and brother, Greer, to visitbrthe site of the World Trade Center and to see Welles Crowther's name at thebrmemorial.
Additionally, thebrMcDevitts were guests of honor at the Texas showing of the full-lengthbrdocumentary film, “Man in Red Bandana.” The film, which shares Crowther’s inspirationalbrstory, has limited private showings across the nation and is expected for abrfull release in 2017.
For more information onbrthe Welles Remy Crowther Red Bandana 5K, visit BC.edu/RedBandanaRun.com, and to show your support with your own red bandana, click here.
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Welles at the Memorial Labyrinth at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
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