On 9/11, Young Man Reflects: 'I Think About What My Life Would Be, If My Dad Had Lived'

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Monday marks 16 years since 9/11, since the day the terror attacks on the Twin Tower changed the world forever — since Andrew Jordan, then a fourth grader who loved history and could recite the names of all the United States presidents, has last seen his father, Andrew Brian Jordan Sr., a dedicated firefighter.

Jordan, now 25, opened his heart this week to share memories of a father who adored him, his brother Matthew and sister Kelsey, and his wife Lisa, who was pregnant with their soon-to-be born son Sean on 9/11.

Sixteen years ago, Andrew was a little boy excited to be a big brother again; he and his dad talked about the baby, who was set to be born soon, to other parents at a soccer signup in Westhampton Beach.

When asked about the baby, and whether it was a boy or a girl, his dad answered with a big smile, "We want it to be a surprise."

Andrew Jordan Sr. never got to meet his youngest son, born on Sept. 26, 2001.

For Andrew Jordan, now 25, the memories of his dad are precious.

"I really enjoyed playing baseball and going to the beach with my father. My father worked so hard for my family, so it really meant a lot to me when we got to spend time together," he said.

Reflecting on 9/11, Jordan said it was very difficult to comprehend, as a 9-year-old. "It was hard to understand what happened or why the terrorists acted that way," he said.

Together, Jordan, his mom and his brothers and sister keep their father alive in every dream, every experience and heartbeat. Their family is closely knit, sharing the proud moments and milestones, living the lives bright with promise, just as their father would want them to.

"Matthew and Kelsey both remember spending time with my dad, but Sean had a different experience because he never met my father," Jordan said. "What my family has done is, we talk about my father and the memories we have shared with him while he was alive. We also go back to my father's firehouse every year on 9/11, Ladder 132 in Brooklyn and Engine 280. This is important to us, because many of the people my dad worked with are at the firehouse on 9/11, and the firemen are always there to help us."

(Photo of Andrew Jordan, Jr. and his sister Kelsey at her high school graduation, courtesy of Andrew Jordan).

And yet, the day is dark with sadness, he said.

"On 9/11, the memories of what happened on 2001 reemerge. I think about my life as a 9-year old, and I think about what my father had been doing, during the moments of silence on that day," Jordan said. "I also think about how my life would be if my dad had lived — and how life would be if 9/11 never happened."

Jordan, teacher, believes 9/11 is a difficult topic to traverse with kids in schools today — but says it must be done. "They have not lived in a world where our country has not been at war, and they don't know how life was like without the security precautions that we have today." But, he added, "I also think that explaining 9/11 to kids is really important and it is important to commemorate that date to students. 9/11 changed the world, and has affected millions of families. We got into the war in Afghanistan because of 9/11, and troops, and their families, have been affected."

Jordan, who is working to obtain his masters degree in international relations from Seton Hall University, said he embarked upon that career path partly because of 9/11.

Andrew Brian Jordan, Sr., Andrew's dad, was a kind man with a huge heart who wore his fireman's uniform and boots to his son's class to teach kids about fire safety, those who knew him remember.

And now, 16 years later, while his memory is indelibly etched into the hearts of a nation, memorialized at monuments and museums near Ground Zero and captured forever in books and newspaper articles, for his family, Andrew Jordan remains the beloved father and husband who's been missed every single minute and heartbeat since he was torn from their lives.

Speaking of his father, Jordan said, in a past Patch interview, "I have so many memories of my dad that I don't know where to begin. But what I do want people to remember about him is that he was such a caring parent and did so much to help my family and the people whose lives he touched."

Watch: NYC Honors Victims Of 9/11

Photos courtesy of the Jordan family.