DATE=04/19/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=9/11 PHOTO/ AUCTION (L-only)

NUMBER=2-288928

BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The photograph that became the symbol of the heroism of September 11th has been auctioned in New York to raise funds for victims of the attacks. Barbara Schoetzau has the story.

/// AUCTIONEER ///

And now we come to Lot 302, the Thomas E. Franklin, "Firefighters At Ground Zero, September 11th, 2001."

/// END ACT ///

TEXT: Photographer Thomas Franklin took the shot of three firefighter planting the America flag atop the rubble of New York's World Trade Center for the New Jersey newspaper, "The Record."

The newspaper donated a color print signed by Mr. Franklin and the three firefighters to raise money for the families of victims.

The bidding at Christie's auctoin house began at five-thousand-five hundred dollars and quickly climbed, greatly exceeding its estimated selling price.

/// AUCTIONEER ///

Sixty thousand dollars. Sixty two thousand, all right. Sixty-five thousand. Sixty-five thousand dollars. Sixty-seven. Seventy-five thousand dollars. You are out. It is here. Anyone else? Seventy-five thousand dollars. Last chance and selling. For you. Seventy-five thousand. (Gavel) Sold. (Applause)

/// END ACT ///

Buyer Stuart Rahr, the owner of a local pharmaceutical distribution firm, paid a final price, including taxes, of 89-thousand 625. He says it is the least he and his firm could do to help the families of the victims.

// RAHR ACT ///

I am happy to be able to give back to the community, to the firefighters, to the widows of the policemen and firefighters who lost everything basically on 9/11.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Rahr says the photograph will be placed on a stand in the firm's lobby.

Photographer Thomas Franklin took more than 600 photographs on September 11th. He says it immediately clear that this one was going to be special.

Mr. Franklin was a finalist for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in photojournalism this year. But he says being able to help the families means more to him than all the recognition the photograph has brought.

/// FRANKLIN ACT ///

I was very surprised. It is wonderful. It is tremendous to get this much money and have all that money go back to the families and the victims of this horrible tragedy.

// END ACT ///

The photograph has been selected for a United States postal stamp which will be issued in a few weeks. (Signed)

NEB/NYC/BJS/PT