Honoring Fallen Heroes held a remembrance ceremony and set off fireworks at Hood Park on Sept. 11 to honor the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which resulted in the loss of countless lives.

Before the ceremony, Dead Roads, a local band from Rolla, performed. Rodger Bridgeman Jr., Honoring Fallen Heroes committee member, led the ceremony.

“Twenty-five years later, we remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives who were taken from us. We remember the firefighters, the police officers, first responders, military members and ordinary citizens who demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of an unmanageable circumstance. We remember the families who lost husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and friends,” Bridgeman said. “Today is not only about remembering how they died, it’s about remembering how they lived: their stories, their dreams, their laughter, their families and the difference they made in the lives of others.”

Pastor Jeremiah Wilson, of the Covenant Praise Church of God, officially opened the ceremony with a prayer.

“God, we thank you for the first responders and the work that they did then, and God, we thank you for first responders now. We celebrate them, and God, we applaud them for the willingness that they have to lay their life down to protect and serve those that are around them, and not only them, but their families,” Wilson said.

Boy Scout Troop 427 presented colors, and Sam Honea sang the national anthem. Bridgeman took the microphone to acknowledge the current and former first responders and veterans present at the ceremony.

Owensville Fire Chief Jeff Arnold shared a few words with the crowd.

“Tonight I want to talk to you about one of the most important and tragic events in American history, Sept. 11, 2001, and how that day changed EMS forever. When most people hear the words Sept. 11, they…immediately think about the attacks of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania,” Arnold said. “I remember the images of the buildings, the smoke covering New York City, and the thousands of people who lost their lives, but Sept. 11 was also a day when thousands of first responders made the decision to run towards danger while everyone else was trying to get away from it. Firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, doctors, nurses and many other emergency workers responded to the attacks.”

Arnold especially brought attention to the eight EMTs and paramedics who died during the attacks.

“Their deaths remind us that EMS personnel are not invincible. EMTs and paramedics are trained to save lives, but they are also human beings that can be injured and become sick, or lose their lives while responding to an emergency,” Arnold said.

He also spotlighted the long-term consequences of the attacks on first responders, including those who developed respiratory issues, cancers and other serious illnesses due to inhaling dust and smoke containing hazardous substances while responding to the crash sites.

Since then, EMS safety has improved with a greater understanding of the importance of personal protective equipment, communication and triage and mass casualty training.

Former Bourbon Fire Chief Steve Kimker also shared a few words.

“Twenty-five years ago today, our nation experienced that tragedy that we’re here to celebrate and talk about. It’s not only about those emergency responders that answered the call. It’s about all of you and the families and everybody behind them because nobody will leave their family to go be an emergency responder if they don’t have somebody at home to come back to because it’s all about family and community,” Kimker said.

Kimker recalled his experiences on the day of the attacks when his training officers’ meeting was interrupted by calls that a plane had struck the first tower of the World Trade Center. A TV was rolled in so they could see what was happening, and watched as the second tower was hit.

“Everybody that day was a first responder trying to help each other out. There was nobody that was not trying to help another citizen, another person in need,” Kimker said. “What I miss is Sept. 12….There were problems, phone lines offline, everything else, but what did everybody in our communities do? They pulled together to help each other. Sept. 12 is the day I miss because that was the day and the time where everybody took care of each other. The spirit of patriotism, service and community is part of what we remember today on Patriot Day.”

Bridgeman again took to the microphone to honor the current first responders who continue to serve, protect, respond and care for others every day.

Wilson closed out the ceremony with another prayer.

“And Lord, as we pray, we do pray for our first responders. We ask that your hand of protection be upon them, Lord. The dangers that they go into, the unknowns of everyday that they serve, we ask you that you would lead and guide them and help them, God,” Wilson said. “And Father, we are thankful for their lives, for their commitment, for their dedication and for their sacrifices. And tonight we give them honor, for your word says to honor those, God, that labor among you.”