Akron’s John E. Ferguson was so moved by the horrific events of 9/11 — specifically the death of the Rev. Mychal Judge, chaplain to New York’s firefighters — that he composed A Song For Fireman Father Mychal Judge.“He was hero who died among heroes … I thought that if I could get what I was feeling on paper, it might be a good thing,” said the 67-year-old Ferguson. Father Judge was killed Sept. 11, 2001, performing last rites for a firefighter who had been mortally wounded as he rushed into the World Trade Center to save lives. The priest, who had removed his fire helmet to pray, was struck and killed by falling debris.“That photo of the priest being carried out of the building just stayed in my head.” Ferguson said. “The song just wrote itself in all of about 20 minutes. It just flowed.”Here are a few of the lyrics from that heart-pounding ballad:The day was clear, the skies a heavenly blueAs Father Mychal received the terrible newsAnd in the alarm he dons his fireman’s gearTo attend his flock, in harm’s way without fearThe great building fell. He heard a fireman cryPlease, padre, I know I’m about to die.And kneeling, the last rites he did sayTake this good and brave man home, I pray.The crashing steel and stone came tumbling downThe cries from his comrades were all around,And reaching the holy cross he held on high,For God’s work and country here is where I’ll die.(chorus)Oh Father, Oh Father, comfort meI know these awful things have got to beAnd though our war for freedom’s just begunI know your fight with evil has been won.Ferguson comes from an active fire family — his son Damon M. Ferguson is an Akron Fire Department lieutenant and his nephew Daniel Ferguson is a firefighter with the New Franklin Fire Department. He and members of his Irish pub band, Fergie and the Bog Dogs, and Gordon Shaffer recorded the song and sold the CD in parishes throughout Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania, raising nearly $30,000. When canvassing for funds, Ferguson would perform the song at the Masses.Ferguson and company formally delivered the money the following year to the fire station in Manhattan where Father Judge lived and worked. “We turned the money over to his memorial fund to be used for good works,” Ferguson said.This 10th anniversary of 9/11 will find Ferguson in serious reflection, praying as he does nightly for his son, nephew and all those in the profession “that I never get a call like those poor fathers and mothers got from ground zero.”Inspirational storyThis next installment is a surprisingly cheerful 9/11 story. It comes from Teri Nicholas of Wadsworth:“9/11/01 was a day I’d been looking forward to for five years — my first day of freedom! I had a 5- and a 3-year-old (Maddie and Annie) and that was the first day both would be in school at the same time as it was my 3-year-old’s first day of preschool, while the other was attending kindergarten. I had just dropped everyone off at their respective schools when news of the unfolding tragedies started coming in.“The days following were, for our family, the same as most I’d imagine. Disbelief, shock and depression ensued as we grappled with this new reality of a completely unsafe world where things like this could happen at any moment. I felt helpless and while various relief efforts were quickly afoot I didn’t really know what to do.“Then came an article, written by you on 9/19, telling of the efforts of the Chalet Kennel in Hudson. They’d gone to New York City to rescue animals and came back with 20 dogs and 7 kittens.“We are the proud owners of one of those kittens. Patrick, a black cat with white feet, was rescued from a shelter in Harlem. I will never forget the look on my then 5-year-old daughter’s face after we chose him and he was handed to her to take home. He was a bright spot for us (maybe not so much for my husband Matt but he forgave me) at a dark time and we’re happy to have him in our family. Patrick is a great cat, now 10 years old, and continues to live a cushy life here with us in Wadsworth.“There probably aren’t too many happy 9/11 stories so I really wanted to share ours.”Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com