A Day To Remember 9/11

The terrorist attacks on September 1, 2001 filled the nation with a kind of sadness that cannot be matched. Hearts filled with sorrow watched the towers fall. The brave men and women of firehouses, hospitals, and police stations rushed to the scene regardless of danger.

“It was a big deal to those involved, but really to those who responded it was a big deal to them at least the fireman, reason being is they ran towards something that was really dangerous. Often times we run in and make everything okay, and these guys ran in and did make things okay for some people but they died and that’s really surreal,”  Fire Chief Troyce Miskin said.

A memorial to victims and first responders was placed in front of the Madison County Firehouse as a reminder of  9/11 for anyone to see.

“One of the coolest things we do is the fact that we have the memorial in front of the fire house. We have the bell and the inscription that says, “The Bell Rang So We Came” and that personifies exactly what I think 9/11 should be about,” Miskin said.

All of the Madison County Firefighters feel strongly about what happened on 9/11. Fire Captain Ellis Johnston built a memorial to show how he feels.

“I inquired about a 9/11 piece of steel from the twin towers in New York and have built a memorial outside the fire department for a place for people to remember. I think there were so many people that gave their all even their life for people they didn’t even know,” Johnston said.

Regardless of the fact that the first responders did not know who they were saving they still went into the flames and smoke so that others might live.

“Some of those guys went in knowing they were potentially going to die and give their life. Some knew when they went up the stairs that they would die and some were able to get out. That is quite a commitment,” Johnston said.

The effects of 9/11 shook the country, affecting more than just those directly involved in the events that transpired. People were in awe as they watched the towers fall. It held a major role in bringing the country together.

“I was in 5th grade and I woke up that morning and my dad had the tv on when I went down stairs and he said some idiots flew their plane into the world trade center. We were thinking it was an accident and really everyone thought that, but as the day progressed we figured out what it actually was,” Mr. Lambson said.