International Rescue Symbols
DESCRIPTION:
These are the symbols used by search and rescue crews to mark various aspects of the scene.
The next three photos show the progression of the painting. The symbols for bodies came first and then the term "punch out".
I spoke with a member of one of the rescue task forces on the scene (who requests anonymity) and asked what this term meant.
It is not an official term. It was arbitrarily chosen as a name for this particular location. It could have said "exit hole".
It was the choice of the person with the spray paint.
Date: 9/11
Time: unknown
Photographer: unknown
DESCRIPTION:
This shows the exit hole prior to any markings. Note that the white pipe has been removed and the
debris has been shifted around from the original photo.
Date: Probably the night of 9/11/01
Time: unknown
Photographer: anonymous
DESCRIPTION:
This shows that the location of bodies had been identified. The circle indicates that they
had been removed. The "MD TF-1" represents Maryland Task Force-1.
Date: 9/13/01
Time: unknown
Photographer: Jocelyn Augustino - FEMA
DESCRIPTION:
Somewhere between the last photo and the final clean-up somebody had painted "punch out" on the wall.