Michael O'Connell retired after serving as a firefighter with the Official Fire Department of New York City during the 9/11 attacks. According to NBC New York, he was forced to end his career after he became ill from inhaling the toxic dust from the collapsing World Trade Center. He lost several of his friends while attempting to put out the flames and rescue as many people as they could.
While serving that day, he wore the same helmet he had used for the entirety of his career as a firefighter. He experienced a lot while wearing it and has always considered it a valuable belonging that represented the good and bad times throughout his career.
A helmet that tells a story
He told Pix11 that his helmet was the last tangible memory he had of his friends and hoped to pass it along to his children as a piece of history. However, two years ago, his Long Island home was robbed. Among the stolen items was his helmet. The thieves also took a lot of his other firefighter memorabilia, including his 9/11 medals. However, while he misses those belongings, his main interest is getting his helmet back.
O'Connell has not given up on finding his helmet and recently got the Internet involved in his search. He posted a picture of his son wearing the helmet on Facebook, asking viewers to help him locate it. NBC New York noted that since the photo was posted online, it has been shared over 100,000 times by Facebook users looking to help O'Connell take back what is rightfully his.
"This is something that means a lot to me. As most firemen know, a helmet is sacred, it tells their story," O'Connell told the news source. "The helmet means everything. Every job I was ever at, every collapse, every fire, 9/11. The helmet tells my story and it's something I've treasured my whole life."
Search expands across the globe
He told NBC New York that it is important to him that his children and grandchildren have the helmet as a way of understanding the historic day and how he was a part of it.
"This way they could actually look up at the wall one day and say maybe to their children, 'That was my father. That was your grandfather. He was there that day and he was part of a brotherhood,'" he explained to the news source.
O'Connell and his family have been busy scouring the Internet for any hopes that someone turned it in. It is a unique red, white and black helmet with the numbers 142 and 4073 stitched onto the front. MyFox New York mentioned that all O'Connell asks is that whoever stole it leaves it on his doorstep.
"I know it's a long shot but if enough people share maybe it turns up or is sent back so I can keep it in my family! Thanks!" O'Connell recently stated on Facebook, according to Pix11.