WACO, Texas — A retired firefighter in Waco says he's feeling better after reaching out to channel six to help find his beloved nine eleven artifacts.
Last year, he gave three patches and a piece of rubble from ground zero to the Waco Fire Department. On Tuesday morning Mickey Pophin found out all of it was missing.
The Waco Fire Department found those precious items tucked away behind some items in a display cabinet at fire station number one.
Just the mention of September 11, 2001 brings tears to Pophin’s eyes.
"I don’t understand people like that, to take human life for no reason," said Pophin.
Pophin spent over 20 years working as a fireman in Round Rock. He was not deployed to the Twin Towers, but his friend was.
"They allowed him to bring out some pieces of the tower, and after that he offered me one and I graciously took it," said Pophin.
For fifteen years Pophin held on to three patches worn by Texas firefighters along with a piece of rubble from the twin towers. He then donated them to the Waco Fire Department and was heartbroken when he heard they were nowhere to be found.
“They are probably one of my highest prized possessions, and I just wanted to be able to share the special thing that I had,” said Pophin.
After a few phone calls, Waco firefighters searched a little harder and found those beloved pieces.
"It’s very special that we have this,” said Patrick Kerwin with the Waco Fire Department. “We take great pride in having this shadow box here to help people always remember that day. That’s why it was so generous of Mr. Pophin to donate this to us."
Pophin says he want thank the fire department for finding the piece of history that could have been over looked. He says September 11, has affected him personally
“I just get so emotional, because I lost three hundred and forty three brothers.”
Pophin said he retired from being a fire fighter due to three battles with colon cancer. He's proud to announce that he’s been cancer free for five years.
