By Thomas Saccente
Times Record
FORT SMITH, Ark. — A group of Fort Smith-area residents is working to ensure those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, are not forgotten.
Jason Mattingly, 36, of Fort Smith is the founder and president of Engine 343, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring all the people who died during the 9/11 attacks, particularly first responders who were at the scene. The foundation of the group is a 1969 Ford F-1000 Super Cab fire truck, a movable memorial that will participate in parades, fundraisers, school events, benefits and other occasions to raise awareness about 9/11.
“There were 343 firefighters killed on Sept. 11, 2001,” Mattingly said. “It’s been 15 years, and now we have young Americans that have no recollection of the attacks, if you will. ... It bothers me that my daughter, she knows of it, but she didn’t live through it, and it made our country to where it is today. A lot of things have changed, and I feel like we need to keep the memory alive, that we need to never forget about 9/11.”
HISTORY AND ORIGINS
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Mattingly said he went to his father’s house to have breakfast with him. Afterward, they sat down to watch television and drink coffee. They turned on the news, and from there watched the 9/11 attacks unfold in front of their eyes.
“The first world trade center, news feed come on about that, and you see this big gaping hole,” Mattingly said. “It was crazy looking, and as we were sitting here watching it, we’d seen the second plane hit. My father was in the military for 23 years in the army. He knew then. He said, ‘That ain’t by accident.’ He said, ‘We’re under attack.’”
The attacks inspired Mattingly to get involved in the community. However, because his status as an insulin-dependent diabetic prevented him from joining the military, he decided to join the Hardin County Volunteer Fire Department in Tennessee. After also serving in the Savannah Fire Department in Tennessee, Mattingly moved to Fort Smith in 2008, where he currently works full-time at Georgia Pacific. He said during this time the memory of 9/11 never left him, a condition that continues to this day.
On the 15th anniversary of 9/11 earlier this year, Mattingly said he was driving with the attacks on his mind when he saw a fire truck on the side of a road. It was this incident that served as the genesis of Engine 343.
“I went there and talked to them and ... the deal fell through on the truck,” Mattingly said. “But I still wanted to keep the idea of keeping a truck, so I started making these fliers. I set up a GoFundMe account, and I started putting up fliers all over town, basically, ‘Help me raise the money to start this,’ and ‘If you have any information on the whereabouts of a truck,’ and so forth.”
Mattingly said a friend told him about a fire truck in Bokoshe worth investigating. From there, he and Engine 343 Treasurer Richard Reeves spoke to the Bokoshe City Council in a meeting about acquiring said truck. The council left the decision in the hands of the Bokoshe Volunteer Fire Department, and after the meeting, a member of the fire department, former Bokoshe mayor Paula Laymon, invited them to visit the fire station where the truck was kept.
“We went down there and looked, and in the far corner of their station, I love seeing this beautiful bumper,” Mattingly said. “My hairs stood up at the back of my neck, just a weird feeling. I was almost in tears when I’d seen it.”
This fire truck was officially donated to Engine 343 Nov. 5. Laymon herself would go on to become the secretary of the organization.
"(Mattingly) asked me if I would be interested in being on the board, and I think it’s something for all communities, not just Fort Smith or Bokoshe, all surrounding communities,” Laymon said. “I think it’s a good thing for all of them.”
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Engine 343 is still in the initial stages, with Mattingly saying the 9/11 Memorial Fire Truck is currently in between periods of undergoing maintenance. This allowed it to participate in the Bokoshe Christmas Parade Dec. 10.
Mattingly is working to acquire stories, images and memorabilia to place in the different compartments on the fire truck to honor all types of first responders and military members. This includes both those who were present at the 9/11 attacks and those who are working today. There will also be a television on the back of the truck for participants to watch a three to five minute video about the attacks themselves.
Mattingly also detailed big ideas for the organization itself. If all goes according to plan, Engine 343 will comprise of multiple vehicles each dedicated to a particular kind of responder, creating a much more in-depth experience for participants.
“I have a lead on another fire truck, and a former police car, ambulance, different military vehicles, a deuce and a half,” Mattingly said. “Each one of these vehicles will be restored, gone through and will tell a story. 343 is the main baby. ... It’s strictly for 9/11, the victims and all this and that, but the ... other fire truck will be for the fire department and their part and their everyday lives from 9/11 to today. It’ll kind of raise awareness for each department. The police car for law enforcement. It’ll represent each division, if you will.”
An actual museum is also in development, with the organization currently trying to acquire a building in Fort Smith for this purpose. In addition, Mattingly said donations will be taken to help local agencies better perform their duties.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is help out these different towns and ... organizations that are having a little bit of trouble getting the tools they need to save lives,” Mattingly said. “Not only will we take donations to help further our efforts and to pay what we’re doing, but donations could be bullet-proof vests to law enforcement. ... SCBA, self-contained breathing apparatuses. The town of Bokoshe needs more. They’re a very small town and they’re limited on their tools that they have to save lives.”
Mattingly also expressed interest in taking the 9/11 Memorial Fire Truck to the World Trade Center site in early 2018.
Copyright 2016 Times Record