Twenty-five years later, the memory of September 11, 2001 remains as powerful as ever for firefighters.
On Friday evening, Brighton Fire and Rescue hosted a Memorial Walk at the East Northumberland Secondary School track, bringing firefighters and their families from across Northumberland County together to honour the 343 firefighters who died while responding to the terrorist attacks in New York City.
The event began shortly after 6 p.m., with firefighters carrying Canadian and American flags as they gathered for the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Brighton Fire and Rescue firefighter Paige Jeffreys organized the event.
While the department had held a memorial walk a few years ago, last year’s event was on a much smaller scale. This year, with the 25th anniversary approaching, Jeffreys reached out to neighbouring fire departments across Northumberland County.
The response was strong.
“It’s not the first time we’ve done it,” Jeffreys said. “We did it a couple years ago and then last year we did it on a much smaller scale, but this year we reached out to our neighbouring departments and we’re really thankful that they’re able to join us today.”
There was a powerful symbolism behind the flags being carried around the track.
“It’s something that that day just affected everyone,” Jeffreys said. “Twenty-five years later, it still affects people.”
The firefighters and their families walked 11 laps around the 400-metre track, representing the 343 firefighters who lost their lives.
Halfway through the walk, after approximately five-and-a-half laps, a fire siren sounded.
Everyone stopped.
For a moment, the track fell quiet as those taking part paused to remember the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, military personnel and civilians whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001.
Jeffreys told participants before the walk that the intention was not only to remember the 343 firefighters, but everyone who made the ultimate sacrifice that day.
“Take the time to honour those that maybe are close to you,” she said. “But most importantly, our service members.”
After the moment of silence, the siren sounded again and the firefighters continued their walk.
At the conclusion of the 11 laps, Jeffreys spoke about the significance of the evening and the importance of the firefighting community coming together.
“Tonight marks 25 years since those attacks on September 11th,” she said. “I think it’s really important that we remember that this is more than just a moment in history.”
“It was a day that changed not just the fire service, but our communities and the countless lives that it impacted.”
The 11 laps, she said, were about carrying that memory forward.
“We walked for the 343 firefighters who answered a call that morning and unfortunately never came home,” Jeffreys said. “We walked for the police officers, paramedics, other first responders, pilots, just people in general who also made that same sacrifice.”
“And we also walked for the family, friends and colleagues who were left behind to carry the weight of that loss.”
For firefighters, the events of September 11 carry a particular significance.
“Whenever those tones drop, our families know just as much as we do that we don’t always know what we’re walking into,” Jeffreys said. “But we go, and we go because someone needs help.”
“The men and women we remember tonight did exactly that. They ran towards danger when others were running away, just as we do.”
Their courage, she said, remains part of the history of the fire service.
Their memory also serves as a reminder of what it means to answer the call.
Friday night’s memorial was also a demonstration of the close relationship between fire departments throughout Northumberland County.
Jeffreys thanked the firefighters, families, friends and community members who came out, as well as East Northumberland Secondary School for allowing the department to use the track.
She also thanked neighbouring departments for their support.
“Despite our borders, I think it really emphasizes the community that we have within our service, but just in general with humanity and how impactful that can be,” she said.
Twenty-five years after the towers fell, the names of the 343 firefighters are still remembered.
They answered a call.
They ran toward danger.
And they never came home.
On Friday night in Brighton, Northumberland firefighters walked 11 laps in their honour — and made sure their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
