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Three portraits of firefighters in uniform posed in front of a red fire truck

Matt Asaro, Rebecca Asaro, and Carl Asaro Jr.

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Our Dad, Our Hero

The Asaro siblings became firefighters to honor their father, one of many heroes who died on 9/11.

September 7, 2026
By Alicia Green

Ilya Savenok/Getty Images

From left: Carl Jr., Rebecca, and Matt Asaro hold a photo of their dad. 

Before going to bed on September 10, 2001, Rebecca Asaro asked her dad, Carl, for a pack of mints. 

“In the morning, I saw him leaving them on my nightstand,” recalls Rebecca, who was 9 at the time. “He kissed me goodbye before he went to work.”

That was the last time Rebecca saw her father.

Later that morning, terrorists flew two planes into the Twin Towers in New York City on purpose. The 110-story skyscrapers were part of a group of office buildings called the World Trade Center. Carl was one of 343 firefighters who lost their lives trying to save others after the attacks. 

It’s been 25 years since that tragic day, now known as 9/11. Today Rebecca and three of her brothers are keeping their dad’s memory alive in a special way. They’re firefighters for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), just like Carl was.

On the night of September 10, 2001, Rebecca Asaro asked her dad, Carl, for a pack of mints.  

“In the morning, I saw him leaving them on my nightstand,” says Rebecca, who was 9 at the time. “He kissed me goodbye before he went to work.”

That was the last time Rebecca saw her dad.

That morning, terrorists flew two planes into the Twin Towers in New York City. The 110-story skyscrapers were part of the World Trade Center. That was a group of office buildings. After the attacks, 343 firefighters lost their lives trying to save others. Carl was one of them.

It’s been 25 years since that tragic day. It’s now known as 9/11. Today Rebecca and three of her brothers are honoring their dad in a special way. They’re firefighters. They work for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), like Carl did.

Bravery Runs In Their Family
Watch a video to hear more from the Asaro siblings.

Forever Changed

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

The Attacks of 9/11

Carl wasn’t originally supposed to work on 9/11. But a fellow firefighter had asked him to cover his shift that day. Shortly after 8:46 a.m., a call came into their firehouse: A plane had hit the North Tower. 

A second plane slammed into the South Tower 17 minutes later. Firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers rushed to the World Trade Center. As panicked people ran from the burning skyscrapers, Carl and other first responders did the opposite.

Carl was assigned to set up a command center at the South Tower. There, he would help coordinate efforts to fight the fires and rescue the people trapped inside. 

But without warning, the South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. The North Tower crumbled less than 30 minutes later. The six Asaro kids and their mom spent days waiting to find out if Carl was OK. 

“We held out hope,” says Carl Asaro Jr., who was 13 at the time. “We didn’t understand completely how terrible everything was.” 

Carl wasn’t supposed to work on 9/11. But another firefighter had asked him to cover his shift. Soon after 8:46 a.m., a call came into their firehouse: A plane had hit the North Tower. 

A second plane hit the South Tower 17 minutes later. Firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers rushed to the buildings. Panicked people ran from the burning skyscrapers. But Carl did the opposite.

Carl set up a command center at the South Tower. There, he arranged efforts to fight the fires and rescue the people trapped inside. 

But without warning, the South Tower fell at 9:59 a.m. The North Tower fell less than 30 minutes later. The Asaro family spent days waiting for news about Carl. 

“We held out hope,” says Carl Asaro Jr., who was 13 at the time. “We didn’t understand completely how terrible everything was.”

Courtesy of family (Asaro family photo); Shutterstock.com (frame)

Carl Asaro poses with five of his six kids in the 1990s.

A Hole in the Family

Sadly, Carl never came home. All 15 firefighters from his firehouse who responded to the attacks died that day. They were among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9/11. 

Growing up without their dad was difficult for the Asaro kids. They missed riding bikes, playing football, and listening to music with him. 

“He was a big kid,” says Matt Asaro, who was 12 on 9/11. 

They also missed visiting their dad at the firehouse. They never forgot the special bond the firefighters shared and the pride they took in helping others. 

“It’s a big family and community,” Carl Jr. explains.

Sadly, Carl never came home. Fifteen firefighters from Carl’s firehouse responded to the attacks. They were among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9/11. 

Growing up without their dad was tough for the six Asaro kids. They missed riding bikes and listening to music with him. 

“He was a big kid,” says Matt Asaro. He was 12 on 9/11. 

They also missed visiting their dad at the firehouse. They never forgot the bond the firefighters shared and how proud they were to help others. 

“It’s a big family and community,” Carl Jr. says.

Inspired by Dad

When he grew up, Carl Jr. decided to honor his father by becoming a firefighter too. He joined the FDNY in 2014. His siblings Rebecca, Marc, and Matt later followed. 

“It’s been the best decision I ever made,” Carl Jr. says. “I like to think he’s proud knowing that we’ve taken similar steps.”

Rebecca agrees. She has spent the past seven years working at her father’s old firehouse. 

“I know my dad’s with me,” Rebecca says. “It brings me a lot of pride and honor to know that I’m literally walking in my dad’s footsteps.”

Rebecca and her siblings say growing up without their father taught them to be resilient. On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, they hope people never forget the bravery and sacrifices made by first responders that day—especially by their dad. 

“Superheroes aren’t only what we see in movies,” says Rebecca. “He was my superhero.”

When he grew up, Carl Jr. decided to honor his father. He would become a firefighter. He joined the FDNY in 2014. His siblings Rebecca, Marc, and Matt soon followed. 

“It’s been the best decision I ever made,” Carl Jr. says. “I like to think he’s proud knowing that we’ve taken similar steps.”

Rebecca agrees. For the past seven years, she has worked at her father’s old firehouse.  

“I know my dad’s with me,” Rebecca says. “It brings me a lot of pride and honor to know that I’m literally walking in my dad’s footsteps.”

The Asaro siblings say growing up without their father made them resilient. On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, they hope people never forget the sacrifices of first responders that day—especially their dad.    

“Superheroes aren’t only what we see in movies,” says Rebecca. “He was my superhero.”

What You Need to Know About 9/11

Robert Giroux/Getty Images

The Twin Towers in flames on 9/11

  • A terrorist group called Al Qaeda (ahl KAY-dah) was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 
  • The Twin Towers weren’t the only targets. Terrorists flew a third plane into the Pentagon. The five-sided building near Washington, D.C., is the headquarters of the U.S. military.
  • A fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Passengers on that flight fought the terrorists and likely prevented an attack on the White House or the U.S. Capitol. 
  • Since 9/11, the U.S. government has taken many steps to make the country safer, including tightening security at airports and in public buildings.
  • A terrorist group called Al Qaeda (ahl KAY-dah) was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 
  • The Twin Towers weren’t the only targets. Terrorists flew a third plane into the Pentagon. The five-sided building near Washington, D.C., is the headquarters of the U.S. military.
  • A fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Passengers on that flight fought the terrorists and likely prevented an attack on the White House or the U.S. Capitol. 
  • Since 9/11, the U.S. government has taken many steps to make the country safer, including tightening security at airports and in public buildings.

1. What was Carl Asaro doing when he died, according to the article?

2. What does the author mean when she writes that some of the Asaro siblings “are keeping their dad’s memory alive in a special way”?

3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?

1. What was Carl Asaro doing when he died, according to the article?

2. What does the author mean when she writes that some of the Asaro siblings “are keeping their dad’s memory alive in a special way”?

3. What is the purpose of the map on page 3?

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