Memorial Held for Fallen Firefighters

Here in the Mid-South, the memories of the 9-11 anniversary were mingled with a tribute to fallen local firefighters. The ceremony was held at the Fire Museum of Memphis downtown.

Let us pay tribute to fallen brothers and sisters in arms...To those who heard the bells ring and dutifully answered each call.

In what's become an annual dual ceremony, Memphis firefighters and Memphis police somberly joined together at the Firefighters Museum of Memphis downtown to commemorate not only the 8th national anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy, but to also pay homage to firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in Memphis.

The passage of time may eventually dim the images of horror on that day in 2001. But, even time will never restore the shattered lives or the sense of loss for the families of 343 firefighters and 60 police officers who lost their lives responding to rescue calls at New York's World Trade Center. While a wounded nation's anger has cooled, its respect for its fallen heroes still burns strong.

"I'd like to think that we're beyond the sting of the event and we've moved toward a memory of the event and what it meant to our country and what we have learned from it over the last eight years," said Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell.

One such lesson learned from our national tragedy was the recognition of firefighters as everyday American heroes. At a time of uncertainty, we came to realize that in Memphis and among the 30,000 fire departments in the country, the call to readiness is always to be unflinchingly answered.

"We all feel that bond," said Alvin D. Benson, Director of the Memphis Fire Department. "We're all a brotherhood and it doesn't matter if a firefighter is killed here or somewhere else we grieve the same way. We feel that. I'm in touch with the Chiefs. Our people reach out to other firefighters across the country. Indeed it is a brotherhood."

It shouldn't take tragedies like 9-11 for people to properly appreciate and to never forget there are already heroes who walk among us.

Among the dignitaries at the memorial service for firefighters were Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen and city and county mayors, Myron Lowery and A C Wharton.