Monday, October 24, 2011

What I think the brave New York City firefighters of 9/11 would want to tell us.. if they were here today.

Sunday, September 11, 2011


I have been with the Columbus Division of Fire for 30 years. During

those years I have had the opportunity to work in or spend some time in

each of the Division's 32 fire stations. I have had occasions to meet

and work with firefighters from other departments and other cities. I

can tell you that from engine house to engine house the faces and the

names may change, but one thing remains consistent, and that is the

closeness of the men and women who staff them.


We live in those fire stations together like a family. You see, there is a sister and

brotherhood amongst all firefighters and a common bond that we share,

not just in our community, but from coast to coast across this great

land. It is not uncommon for a firefighter to visit a fire station far

from home in another city and be warmly accepted as one of the "family."


I never actually met any of the 343 firefighters whom we honor here

today. Like many of you, I have gotten to know some of them during the

past ten years, through various news accounts and documentaries.

Some stories entail a family tradition involving fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles;

while others tell of an individual with a passion to help others.

Their stories are familiar to those of us in the fire service.

I didn’t know these men personally, but I know them just the same.


It is from this standpoint, as a sister firefighter, that I would like

to talk to you about what these brave men would want us to know. I do

not presume to speak directly for them, rather I would like to address,

in general terms, what I think they might convey to us if they were

right here with us, in this room today.


First, they would, most likely, wonder what all the fuss was about and

humbly reject the hero status that we have placed upon them. After all,

it is routine for firefighters to run into a hazardous situation when

everyone else is running the other direction. "It's what we are trained

to do, the citizens should expect no less." they might add. They would

claim that they were merely performing their job and pass along a quote

from a long-ago chief, a quote they all learned back in the training

academy:


"A firefighter performs one single act of bravery during their entire

career, and that's when he or she takes the oath to serve and protect, after

that, everything else is in the line of duty."


They would tell us that, given the chance, they would do it all over

again without any regrets, save for one, and that is that their rescue

efforts were cut short by the untimely collapses and they were unable to

rescue each and every person trapped in the towers. However they would

display great pride at the success they did have in helping so many to

safety and the thousands of lives that they did manage to save in such a

short period of time. All of whom are now living legacies to those

firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice.


Lastly, they would offer much gratitude to the countless citizens that

rushed to the aid of their broken families that they were forced to

leave behind. People showed up from all walks of life to help. Some were

doctors, nurses, clergymen, social workers, engineers, steel workers,

the list goes on and on. Some were volunteers who simply showed up to

help in absolutely anyway they could. The fallen firefighters would want

you to know that they thank you.


You see, it's the citizen's that we are sworn to protect that are often

times our heroes. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They don't need a

badge or a uniform. Sometimes they show up at the most unlikely of times

or places. They are all around us if you take the time to notice them...

That is what I think the brave New York City firefighters of 9/11 would

want to tell us.. if they were here today.


n closing, I want you all to know that the tragedy that we all endured ten

years ago has not weakened our determination as emergency first

responders to serve and protect you. Rather, it has strengthened our

resolve. We are committed to preserving our freedom and our way of life.

Rest assured that when the next emergency call comes in, no matter how big or how small,

we will be ready and we will respond, without hesitation, not just

in this community, but from every community across the United States.


That is our duty, that is our bond, that is our honor.




About the author: Captain Lana Moore is a 30-year veteran of The Columbus Division of Fire. Her current assignment is Northmoor Engine House #19 located in the neighborhood known as Clintonville in Columbus, Ohio. She originally wrote and delivered this speech on the first anniversary of 9-11 at Central College Presbyterian Church. Now, nine years later on the tenth anniversary, with a few minor updates, she shared her speech at North Congregational Church of Christ where she is a member and serves as Moderator. She lives in Westerville, Ohio and has two children, Lauren & Nicholas.

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