For some, the events of September 11, 2001, feel like they happened yesterday. For others, the day is known only through stories, photographs, documentaries and the lessons passed down by those who lived it.
Twenty-five years ago, I was a volunteer firefighter. I can still remember sitting in disbelief as the news broadcast live coverage of the attacks. Watching emergency responders run toward unimaginable danger while thousands of citizens fled for safety forever changed my understanding of what it truly means to serve. That moment defined the difference between those who run away from danger and those who willingly run toward it.
The days, weeks and months that followed shaped how I viewed our country for the next quarter century. You couldn’t drive down the street without seeing American flags flying from homes, businesses and vehicles. Communities came together in ways not seen since the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans stood united against terrorism with an unwavering sense of purpose and patriotism.
For the fire service, everything changed on September 11. The loss of 343 firefighters was more than a statistic; it was a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifice our profession demands and the price that service sometimes requires.
Never Forget quickly became both the fire service’s rallying cry and the nation’s commitment to preserving the memory of that day. Twenty-five years later, however, those words deserve more than repetition. They deserve reflection.
What do those words mean to the fire service today? What do they mean to you? And how should departments that were not directly impacted honor this historic anniversary?
For me, the greatest way to honor September 11 is to honor the people.
Honor the courage of those who entered collapsing buildings without hesitation.
Honor the humility of those who worked tirelessly at Ground Zero in the days and weeks that followed.
Honor the determination of those who searched endlessly for survivors and, later, for those who would never come home.
Honor the resilience of the survivors. The physical, emotional and mental toll challenged even the strongest among them. Yet each day they got up, brushed themselves off and continued serving others. They cared for their fellow firefighters, supported their communities and lived with servant hearts. Their legacy is not only found in their sacrifice but also in their unwavering commitment to service after the tragedy.
As fire departments across the nation prepare to mark this 25-year remembrance, I encourage us to do more than hold a memorial ceremony or participate in a stair climb. Those traditions are meaningful and should continue, but they should also inspire action.
Recommit to a servant mindset.
Strengthen relationships with your mutual-aid partners.
Break down jurisdictional barriers.
Train together.
Serve together.
Lead together.
On 9/11, there were no department patches, no ranks, no titles and no divisions. There was a single fire service with one mission: Save lives. Twenty-five years later, that lesson remains just as relevant.
The greatest tribute we can offer those who served and those who were lost is to become better firefighters, stronger organizations and more unified communities. Let us honor their sacrifice, not only by remembering what happened that day but by living the values they demonstrated every day after it.
Because while history remembers September 11 for the tragedy it brought to our nation, the fire service should remember it for something even greater — the extraordinary example of courage, unity, sacrifice and selfless service.
“I don’t know what the next level beyond fantastic is”
