Found bracelet brings 9/11 families together- Sophia Maas 2nd Period

Ten days ago, Marlene Quinn had taken a walk on the shores of New York's Robert Moses State Park. A metal bracelet inscribed with the name of a fallen 9/11 firefighter washed ashore and Marlene picked it up. Marlene had just lost a brother, Michael O'Neill, a volunteer firefighter and captain in Long Island. The name on the "weathered bracelet was also named Michael," Michael J. Otten.

Ms. Quinn knew the Otten name, so she decided to track the families address. She was shocked to find out that they lived less than a mile away from their childhood home. She put the bracelet in the mail, along with a note. Quinn states,"I knew they needed it and I thought it was my brother coming through.. There is another firefighter in heaven." 

Otten's widow, Marion, said that she "didn't even know it was missing." Her son "Jonathan had worn it in honor of his father," until he lost it on the beach nearly a decade ago. Ms. Quinn sees this as a sign, that "everything happens for a reason."

Jonathan Otten now keeps his fathers bracelet on his dresser and plans on becoming a firefighter with his brother. Marion says that firefighting is "in their blood."

Four generations of great firefighters.

This article was written by Haimy Assefa and Ray Sanchez of CNN.

www.cnn.com/2014/09/06/us/new-york-911-bracelet/index.html?c=us