This will be my only post today. I post this every 9/11 to honor a true American hero. This is going to be a long one but will be worth it we promise. As some of you know I left firefighting a few years ago to further pursue my businesses. Well much of the gear I used to buy for one of my other business came from bulk lots. Before I would sell an item I would always check for names inside just in case. This coat came in a bulk lot around 2008 and it had a name in it. The name was David Fontana of Squad Company 1 out for Brooklyn, New York. A quick google searched revealed what I had in my possession. This coat was built as a product sample and intended for Firefighter Fontana to use on the job and give feedback to the manufacturer but he never received it as he gave his life on 9/11 to help others in the towers. He had just finished a 24 hour shift and had hoped to get off early since it was also his and his wifes 8 year wedding anniversary and his sons second day of kindergarten but instead got back on the equipment and charged toward the towers. The more I read about David the more I was intrigued by this great mans life. He was was a family man, donated his time to the Boy Scouts, avid rock climber, he loved the arts and creating elaborate Halloween costumes for him and his son, he created a memorial that honored firefighters that were KIA in WWII, there are so many great things he accomplished that I found out through researching him. Now holding Firefighter Fontanas coat in my hands I knew I wanted his family to have it. I did some more research and discovered his wife wrote a book called "A Widows Walk" I tried contacting her agent and publisher and explained to them what I had and didn't make much ground. Every few months I'd try again to get in contact with her. One year of all places I found her on Facebook, at the time i didnt even have a facebook account so i created one and wrote to her and told her I would like to give her the coat if they wanted it. I was a little nervous as I didn't want to be the person who maybe brought up bad memories or whatnot. (CONTINUED ON NEXT COMMENT) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnl4f58nt0A/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=770w8rlnfew5