Twenty-five years after the September 11th attacks, Salvation Army responder Ken Tregellas continues to reflect on his months of service at Ground Zero, a period he considers an honor despite later developing cancer. Tregellas, who was coordinating emergency assistance programs in Wisconsin, deployed to New York City shortly after the attacks.
Upon arrival, he encountered a scene of devastation, with smoke still rising from the debris of the World Trade Center. As the Red Zone coordinator for The Salvation Army, Tregellas oversaw efforts to support recovery workers and families searching for loved ones. Tents were established to provide meals, shelter, and a respite for weary responders, whose boots were often melted by the intense heat.
The organization's mission extended beyond basic necessities, offering counseling and spiritual care to those engaged in the grueling recovery work. Tregellas noted the diversity of individuals at the site, including families from around the world seeking information about missing relatives. He emphasized the importance of listening to their stories, even when working with interpreters.
The scale of loss at Ground Zero profoundly affected Tregellas, making it difficult to process other disasters with the same level of empathy. He found himself comparing lesser losses to the lives tragically lost on 9/11, realizing that material possessions were insignificant compared to the loss of life.
Ten years after the attacks, Tregellas was diagnosed with stage 4 mantle B-cell lymphoma, a rare cancer. His treatment involved approximately eight months of chemotherapy and extended hospital stays, including a stem cell transplant. The Victims Compensation Fund provided assistance for his treatment.
After the cancer returned, Tregellas was put on a drug called ibrutinib, which he took until February of the current year. This treatment brought him back into remission. Reflecting on his experience, Tregellas stated that even knowing the future health consequences, he would not have changed his decision to serve at Ground Zero.
Today, Tregellas speaks to younger generations about his experiences on 9/11, aiming to keep the memory of the attacks alive and underscore the unity that emerged. He views the anniversary as a time to acknowledge shared resilience and the collective strength demonstrated in overcoming adversity.