Retired Fire Chief Donates Helmet Worn on 9/11 to Museum

Retired Arlington County Fire Chief Robert Gray, members of his family, and curators from the Museum pose next to Gray’s fire helmet, which Gray donated to the Museum.

Left to Right: Bethany Romanoski, collections registrar; Amy Weinstein, associate director of collections and senior oral historian; Jenny Pachucki, oral historian and assistant curator; Timothy Brown, retired FDNY, DOJ; Robert Gray; Leslie Gray; Olivia Gray; and Max Gray. (Photo: Valeska Martinez)

During the week, curators and collections staff welcomed retired Arlington County Fire Chief Robert Gray and his family to the 9/11 Memorial Museum. On Sept. 11, 2001, Gray responded to the Pentagon and spent weeks fighting the fires, helping to stabilize damaged sections of the building and working on the recovery effort.

In 2009, Gray met with curators from the museum to record his oral history and eventually donated the helmet he wore during the recovery period that was issued to responders on Sept. 14. This helmet and a segment of his oral history can currently be found on view in the museum’s historical exhibition.

Now, years later and after having recently recovered from a near fatal household accident, Gray traveled with his family to the museum to show them his helmet on view. With him he brought a new gift to the museum collection, the fire helmet that he had worn his entire career and on 9/11 as he fought the fires. We are honored to receive the donation of this cherished object which will help make this heroic story complete.

By Jenny Pachucki, Oral Historian and Assistant Curator