Safety & Health

Time to Remember September 12, 2001

Sept. 12, 2011

After a day of remembering the horrible events that unfolded on 9/11 some 10 years ago I believe it is time to remember what it was like on 9-12-01! We had been attacked on our soil by some foreign cowards and America had responded! On Sept. 12 we all responded! From the pile that was made from the falling of the Twin Towers to the remains of Flight 93 in the field in Pennsylvania we took action. From mutual aid to the giving of blood the response was unprecedented.

The outpouring of support for our first responders bonded us together as we begin the rebuilding of our nation. I will never forget the sight of the ironworkers riding on their trucks heading down to Ground Zero to assist in the rescues. The videos of all the responders from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. parked outside the still standing Pentagon. The countless number of people streaming in to firehouses around the country bringing letters of thanks. The support for the emergency services was on the forefront of every American's mind.

But, as the anniversaries have passed is this feeling fading? Not a day goes by that you don't see a article talking about the reduction of funding for today's fire service. It shouldn't take a tragedy like 9/11 or the loss of life suffered in Charleston, SC, for us all to support and bond together. When city hall’s budget falls short, it shouldn't be the first responders that are at a risk for failing!

It's time to remind our nation of September 12, 2001. It time to remember that we can be attacked again. It's time to properly staff our first response agencies and give them the support they deserve. Let's all think back to the morning of Sept. 12 some 10 years ago, the morning where everyone bonded together to dig through the pile, waved their flags and stood proud to be a American. We stood even prouder to be a American firefighter!

God bless the family, friends, and responders of 9/11/01....You will not be forgotten!!

About the Author

Ryan Pennington

RYAN PENNINGTON is a 22-year veteran of fire/EMS. He currently serves as a captain/paramedic with the Charleston, WV, Fire Department, where he has served for the past 12 years. Pennington has lectured and trained thousands of firefighters across the United States and internationally at conferences, including Firehouse Expo and Firehouse World, and has been published in many fire service publications.