Bag
- Description
- Denim bag created in memory of Michael A. Esposito. The bag is made from a pair of denim jeans, has a belt in the belt loops, and a red bandana tied around the belt. The strap is made from a piece of cut denim. Attached to the front of the bag are two appliquéd photographs, one of Esposito in his fire helmet and the other of his son, Michael, and their pet dog, Cody. There is also an FDNY Squad 1 patch on the front. The front and back of the bag are covered in small plastic star charms and other charm detailing. On the back of the bag is a red bandana sticking out of a pocket and another appliquéd photograph of Esposito's other son, Andrew (in the front), and his cousin Mike.
- Historical Notes
- Born and raised on Staten Island, Michael Esposito lived in Eltingville with his wife, Denise, and their two sons. Michael competed in triathlons, coached his sons’ baseball teams, and had boxed competitively for the FDNY, where he was a firefighter with Squad 1. On September 11, Lieutenant Esposito responded to the World Trade Center with his squad. He was 41 years old.
Curator's Comment
After Michael Esposito’s death on 9/11, a family friend surprised his wife and children with the gift of a shoulder bag fashioned from a pair of denim blue jeans. One side of the bag is adorned with a patch for FDNY Squad 1, Michael’s company, and photographs of him and his son, also named Michael. The other side features a photograph of his son Andrew. “When I received the bag,” Michael’s wife, Denise, recalled, “it showed me the love and compassion friends had for us during this difficult time.” Today, the couple’s sons are both FDNY firefighters.
- Accession Number: C.2013.935.1
- Dimensions: 31.5 in X 22 in X 2.75 in
- Dimensions (Metric): 80.01 cm X 55.88 cm X 6.985 cm
- Source: Denise Esposito
- Credit Line: Gift of the Esposito family
All materials made publicly available by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on this site are intended for research and educational use only. Users may need to obtain other permissions for their intended use(s) and are responsible for determining copyright status and securing these permissions.
To inquire about copyrights and reproductions, contact: xxx@911memorial.org
