Reflections on a prefect Tuesday morning

 

Goochland Fire-Rescue paused, as it does every year, on September 11, to remember and pay tribute to those who perished on that perfect Tuesday morning 23 years ago and in its aftermath.

Our public safety community—dispatchers, law enforcement and fire-rescue providers— gathered in the morning at Courthouse Company 5 to read the names of those who lost their lives responding to the terrorist attacks. This was begun in 2010 by former Chief of the Department of Fire-Rescue, Bill MacKay, who responded to the attack on the Pentagon.

In the evening, a community-oriented observance took place at the Manakin Company 1 Fire-Rescue station on Rt. 6 between Manakin and Hockett Roads.

911 memorial in Manakin

There is sacred ground at Company 1, where a 911 memorial built with twisted steel from the 92^nd floor of the North Tower sits in the center of a Pentagon shaped plaza near a winglike rock with the number 93 to honor the brave passengers of Flight 93. The Stars and Stripes and Freedom Flag stand guard overhead.

Ground was broken for the Goochland memorial on September 11, 2011, at the initiative of John Waechter, then president of the Goochland Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association. It was, according to Manakin Volunteer Capitan Martin Dean, a collaborative effort with other fire-rescue companies and local businesses.  Open 24/7/365 “It is a well-visited memorial,” said Dean.

The Freedom Flag was created by Goochlander Richard Melito, who like most of the world in the aftermath of the attack, wanted to make sure that the events and those who died on that awful day were never forgotten.

The Freedom Flag

John Riley, President of the Freedom Flag Foundation (FFF), recalled a normal Tuesday when a dear friend, a member of his wedding, employed at Cantor Fitzgerald ten floors above the impact of the first plane, died at the hands of terrorists and changed his life forever.

Riley observed that about 80 million people were born after 911 or are too young to remember that horrific day. The mission of the FFF is to educate future generations and honor those who perished with this teaching tool. The Virginia General Assembly unanimously adopted the Freedom Flag as the state’s official symbol of remembrance honoring the victims and heroes of 911. The Foundation hopes to have it adopted in all 50 states.

Each of the ten elements of the Freedom Flag reflects on a specific facet of that horrific and tragic day. (Go to https://www.freedomflagfoundation.org/ to learn more.)

Company 1 Volunteer Rescue Captain Devin Sclater reflected on the significance of the day and how in the ensuing decades conflicting opinions about the cause and aftermath of 911 obscure the significance and sacrifice of the day.

“The call to service is why we are gathered here today to honor those who responded on 911 and in its aftermath. For the generation of teenagers who saw those acts of heroism and were inspired to serve in the military, law enforcement, dispatchers of firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.

“Goochland’s first responders echo them every time they get on an ambulance or fire apparatus every time a call comes through. County staff miss birthdays and holidays with their loved ones to ensure that you are safe. Volunteers leave their day jobs, often spend sleepless nights at the fire house, then turn around and go back to work the next morning. We all strive every day to emulate the courage shown by those who responded to the 911 terrorist attacks.”

Sclater reflected on the psychologically challenging role of dispatchers, who are a critical component in all emergency responses, on that day.

“Dispatchers who responded to thousands of 911 calls could barely get a word in due to numerous callers with contradicting information. They provided the comfort they could as people died on the phone, then picked up the next call and started all over again. The frustration they felt as they tried to share conflicting reports with emergency personnel so they could be prepared for what they were responding to.”

 She said that divisive media spawned rhetoric detracts from the actions of “selfless responders who raced for a scene that thousands were running from.  Twenty-three years ago, we all froze and watched while the world changed for good. First responders went straight into action with one goal on their minds, the preservation of life and property even in a situation that seemed hopeless.

“Do not allow this day to become politicized. No matter who is president, no matter who is being blamed for the negatives in our society, this firehouse and countless others will hold well-trained men and women prepared 24/7 to respond to any emergency thrown their way. The selfless heroism of dispatch, law enforcement, and fire-rescue, makes me proud to be an American, proud to be a citizen of Goochland, and proud to serve alongside Goochland’s first responders.”

She ended with a quote from David Levithan “What separates us from animals, what separates us from chaos is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.”

May our country find its way back to the unity and resolve of September 12, 2001.