Painful memories

last updated 8 January 2015

New York

The 9/11 commission held emotional hearings in New York City this week, with one member scolding fire and police officials for a confused rescue effort “not worthy of the Boy Scouts.” Former fire commissioner Thomas Van Essen called the remarks “despicable.” Dozens of family members, many clutching photos of relatives who died in the Sept. 11 attacks, applauded the tough questioning after hearing moment-by-moment accounts of the chaotic effort to save people trapped in the burning towers. “We can’t bring our loved ones back,” said Bill Doyle, whose son died in the 2001 attacks, “but we can have peace of mind that someone’s being held accountable.”