Editor’s note: At the Los Alamos Fire Department 9-11 hill climb, Jody Benson carried Tom Haskell’s name. When she finished walking, she saw that his brother, Timothy Haskell’s name was on the badge next to her badge. She reached out to the brothers’ hometown of Seaford’s 9/11 Memorial Committee (https://www.seaford911.org) by email and her email and the response she received with the Los Alamos Reporter.
9/11 2025 Memorial Hike
Subject: At our 9-11 hill climb I carried Tom Haskell’s name
Date: September 13, 2025
From: Jody Benson
Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee.
Years ago, an Iraq War Vet who continued his service as a firefighter in Los Alamos. Here, to honor the 9/11 heroes who inspired him, he helped organize the Los Alamos, NM 9/11 Memorial Hill Climb. The climb is 1100 feet up Pajarito Mountain—268 feet short of the elevation of the Twin Towers.
We start the Memorial at the ski lodge where we choose a badge with the picture and name of a 9/11 hero to carry with us. Saturday, I chose Thomas Haskell.
After prayers; bagpipers wearing the NM Emergency Services Kilt piped us to the trailhead where firefighters, many in full rescue gear, escorted us up the mountain.
Hiking, I talked to others–firefighters from around NM, an Afghan-war vet, two coaches with a Rio Rancho youth hockey team, an immigrant grateful to be an engineer at LANL, a couple families carrying babies in back packs as they led their gang of older kids to teach them about 9/11, elders like me who saw the world change because of 9/11…. I asked each where they were on 9/11. Even the half of the population too young to remember, remember the heroism.
And for Thomas Haskell whom I was climbing with, I showed him our mountains where two holocaust forest fires together burned about 200,000 acres, the Valles Caldera where I was volunteering on 9/11 and didn’t know until noon what had happened….
When I got back to the lodge I put Thomas’ badge on the table with the other badges. It was then that I saw with a punch that the badge I put Tom’s next to said “Timothy Haskell.” I asked one of the firefighters “What is this?” He showed me the 9/11 Page. “Brothers,” he said, “both died in 9/11.” I read about the boys, about Thomas and Timothy’s compassion, pride and love of community…. And I read that Tom was one of those missing for a while.
Just know that each of those lost in 9/11 is still remembered. I am honored to have climbed the mountain with Tom. Tell your community Thank You for your sacrifice.
On Sep 13, 2025, at 11:56 PM, Lynda
Good Morning Jody,
Thank you so much for this information and for your climb in Tommy’s name.
I will forward it onto the Haskell family who lost two members who were brothers.
Tommy was the youngest Battalion Chief in FDNY history and a loving husband and father of three girls at the time of his death, one of whom has since had a baby girl. Tommy would’ve been a grandfather now. He was last seen leading his men into Tower 1. Tommy and his men were killed on the ground level as the building collapsed.
Timmy, his younger brother, who always had an adventurous spirit, joined his other two brothers as a firefighter for FDNY. He had a spotted Dalmatian named Blaze who he took to local schools on his off days to teach fire safety and “Stop, Drop, and Roll” (which Blaze demonstrated). Timmy lost his life in Tower 2’s collapse, last seen getting a disabled gentleman out of the tower and, after handing him off safely to an EMS worker, returned to the tower and gave the ultimate sacrifice returning up the stairs to assist others.
I will forward your email to Tommy and Timmy’s mother, Maureen as well as to his two brothers Kevin and Kenny (retired FDNY) and sister Dawn and their families.
Thank You and God Bless You for your service.
Lynda