Issues suggestions for September 11 remembrance
Fairfax, VA, August 29, 2006
9/11 Ceremony at FRI
On September 15, 2006, during the general session at Fire-Rescue International, a special ceremony will recognize the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. “Individuals from Shanksville, New York and Arlington will be with us in Dallas as we remember and recognize those who were lost and the many lives that were saved on that tragic day,” said IAFC President Chief Bill Killen.
As a special tribute, we ask all attendees to bring a patch to represent your department; the patches will be collected at the general session and placed onto a special board. After the conference, we would like to list this special tribute collection on eBay. The proceeds collected will be distributed among fire departments in need.
Also, please bring your business card with you and deposit it into the appropriate containers upon entering the general session. We will be honored to list all attendees’ names on our Web site as a special thank you for participating in this special event.
Recommended Protocol for September 11
The IAFC provides a possible recommended protocol for U.S. fire departments that wish to mark the annual commemoration of the losses suffered by the nation on September 11, 2001. The suggested protocol is in response to the significant number of requests the IAFC receives annually from member departments that wish to mark the anniversary in some way.
In making the recommendation, the IAFC states that the ceremony is a proposed format only-it does not constitute a national day of recognition. Further, the IAFC stresses that such participation is entirely voluntary and should be considered on a community-by-community basis with the input of local law enforcement and municipal leadership.
For those departments wishing to mark the 9/11 anniversary, the following ceremony is proposed.
MOMENT OF SILENCE WITH BELLS
Monday, September 11, 2006
9:58 a.m. EDT
- All available fire department personnel assemble at attention in front of the station flag pole (or a central location in front of the building)
- No recommended uniform of the day-up to department discretion
- Company officer or chaplain, if present, may choose to make brief remarks
- No badge shrouds or lowered flag
- Community involvement is optional
- When assembled, maintain silence
9:59 a.m. EDT - Time of the South Tower Collapse
Station bell rings 5-5-5 (three sets of five chimes each) or 5-5-5-5 (four sets of five chimes each-both are common and acceptable).
Note: Some stations may not have bells and may opt for local church bells or sirens sounded for 1 minute (check with neighbors for approval)
10:00 a.m. EDT - One Minute of Complete Silence
Additional actions may include, if desired:
- Read the names of each of the 343 fire fighters from FDNY (approx 10 min., see Background Materials below)
- The chief fire officer, city or county officials, local minister or other designated person might speak
- Local minister or FD chaplain recites Invocation or Firefighter’s Prayer (see Background Materials below)
- Invite attendees to reflect on all the lives lost on September 11-law enforcement and civilian, as well as fire service
- Recognize any line of duty deaths the department itself has suffered in the past year
- Perform any specific regional/department/station traditions for services
Dismissal
Considerations
If a commemorative event is performed, IAFC recommends that it not be limited to the fire service. Rather, the remembrance of the day should include all the victims of the tragedy on 9/11: fire service, law enforcement and civilians alike, including the families of those who were lost.
The event should not focus solely on the World Trade Center, but should include a remembrance of all three attack sites: the World Trade Center in New York City; the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.; and the crash-site in Shanksville, Pa.
Background Materials
The IAFC has made the “Firefighter’s Prayer” available online at the IAFC Web site.
For those who wish to read the names of the 343 FDNY firefighters, the roll-call list (pdf file) is also available for download.