Written by Caitlyn Dorman and Ella Gentile
Working in his farmer shop at the Marketplace Mall on Main Street, 89-year-old Burt is still living with the same spark he has carried throughout his life through his years of service. Once in the military and a Cortland firefighter, his stories reflect humor and heartbreak throughout his years and memories built in the town of Cortland.
On Sept. 11, 2001, like any other day, Burt was working his job as a mall manager at the Marketplace mall 64 Main St, when suddenly his buddy called him into his office where the television was on displaying the events of the 9/11 attack on the twin towers. Burt was truly in disbelief, and he had never seen anything like this happen before.
“I was confused,” Burt said. “But unfortunately, that day I kept working like nothing happened. I know that sounds bad, but I don’t think it really hit me what had just happened.”
The rest of the day felt like a blur for him.
On September 12, 2001, just one day after the tragic event, Burt needed faith. He decided to go to Episcopal church right in the center of town where he couldn’t even find a seat. Finding faith in the community was something people could turn to but the hard truth everyone had to face was that you can’t bring things back.
“People just wanted to say something or listen to someone,” said Burt.
The tragedy of 9/11 still breaks Burt’s heart. As someone who had been in service and a firefighter, all he could do is think about how many lives were lost.
“As a firefighter, I lost brothers I didn’t know,” said Burt with a shaky voice. “There are still people unaccounted for. Firefighters don’t stand around, they go headfirst”
Born May 20, 1936, Burt, a veteran, retired firefighter, and active member of the Cortland community, was in the service stationed in France for 3 years, 1955-1958, before returning home to Cortland.
“I joined the service on August 12, 1955,” he said proudly. “Three years later, I was out, my number was 1305663”
Returning from the military Burt still didn’t find a purpose. However, one day he found himself painting his mother house on a huge ladder and was interrupted by his friend George Smith.
“He saw me up on the ladder and said ‘You’re not afraid of heights, aren’t you? How about joining the fire department?’” Burt recalled his memory with a laugh. “So I took the test, passed and started in 1969.”
He joined the Cortland firefighters when he was thirty years old and retired twenty years later.
“Being a firefighter is a young man’s game,” Burt said. “You’re either going to be alive or you’re not, but it’s worth it.”
Decades later, 9/11 remains a reminder that your life can change rapidly.
“You never know,” Burt said. “I’m an eighty-year-old cancer survivor and I enjoy life. I love to joke, laugh, and enjoy the company of my friends. Life’s too short not to laugh, you have to enjoy it while you can.”