On a perfect Tuesday morning

On a perfect Tuesday morning nineteen years ago today people in New York and Northern Virginia died for the sin of going to work. Others, ordinary folks on a plane, whose names will be forever enshrined in sacred memory, fought hijackers to prevent a third strike perishing as they dove into a Pennsylvania field. Brave firefighters and law enforcement officers— lovingly referred to as LEOs—ran toward danger to save those trapped in the burning twin towers and the crumpled Pentagon giving their lives in performance of their duties. The world watched in stunned silence and grieved as one.
Rising above the smoke and carnage in Manhattan on that day, Lady Liberty’s torch seemed higher and brighter, a metaphorical middle finger to our enemies. America was united, the flag was respected and proudly displayed everywhere. LEOs, firefighters, and EMS providers were thanked and held in awe for the jobs they did before that fateful and have done since. Each year, solemn ceremonies mark the anniversary of that horrible day as fire-rescue folk and LEOs around the country honor the bravery and sacrifice of their fallen comrades.

Here we are nineteen years later. Things have changed. Our LEOs are vilified, fire-rescue responders attacked as they go about their lifesaving business. Our cities are burning, everyone is angry. Too many people are terrified of Covid, and the unity America experienced in 2001 is but a memory to some, forgotten by those bent on disruption.


Goochland, however, remembers. This morning at Company 5, a solemn ceremony marked the day our world changed and read aloud the names of those in public safety who perished on that day and have died since from disease contracted in the aftermath.

During the remembrance, Goochland Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief-EMS Mike Watkins spoke to the challenges of those in public safety:

“The men and women of today’s emergency services are confronted with a more dangerous work environment that ever before. We are forced to continuously change out strategies to accomplish our tasks. Our methods may change, but our goals remain the same as they were in the past to save lives and protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost. This is what we do, this is our chosen vocation, this is our calling, this is who we are.

Emergency services of today is ever changing but steeped in traditions more than 200 years old. One such tradition is the sound of the bell. In the past, our cities, towns, and villages had on street corners the familiar fire pull box. The box was connected to bells that would strike in a specific pattern for each box location. This was in the days prior to ...modern telecommunications. As firefighters began their tour of duty, it was the bells that signaled the beginning of that day’s shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by the bells, which brought the brave souls to fight fires and place their lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizens. And when the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bells that signaled to all the completion of that call.

When a firefighter died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice, it was the mournful toll of the bell that solemnly announced a comrade’s passing. We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and respect on those who have given so much and who have served so well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls have for their duty, a special signal of five rings three times represents the end of our comrade’s duties and that they will be returning to quarters. And so, to those who have selflessly given their lives for the good of their fellow man, their tasks completed, their duties well done, to our comrades, their last alarm, they are going home.”

His words were followed by three sets of five tolls of the bell.

May the unity that followed that horrific day return and may God bless America.