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Marshalltown Fire Department remembers 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 during ceremony

By Lana Bradstream 3 min read

Twenty-five years ago on Sept. 11, the nation and the world was changed after four airliners were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field in Pennsylvania.

On Friday, the country remembered the people who died from the collapse of both Twin Towers and the crashes of the planes. The Marshalltown Fire Department joined in the solemnity and held a ceremony before 8 a.m. in remembrance. Chief Christopher Cross greeted the small crowd gathered on the lawn of the Police & Fire station.

"On that day, nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken in New York City, the Pentagon and a quiet field in Pennsylvania," he said. "Among them were office workers who simply went to their jobs, airline passengers and crews who never expected what the day would bring and first responders who answered the call without hesitation."

A heavy number -- 343 -- has been etched into the DNA and on the hearts of firefighters. That is the number of firefighters who perished in the towers when they collapsed, firefighters who placed top priority on the lives of the people caught inside.

"They climbed the stairwells filled with smoke, knowing what the risks were, but pressing forward because that is simply what we do out of love for our fellow man," Cross said. "They didn't pause to calculate the costs. They simply acted out of duty and a sense of purpose greater than themselves. Their sacrifice is not just a number. Each of those souls had families, dreams and lives beyond their gear and their helmets. When faced with the call, they lived out the highest ideals of service, and today as we do every year, we remember them for not only how they died, but how they served."

Marshalltown might be hundreds of miles away from the Sept. 11 sites -- in the case of New York City and Washington, D.C. more than 1,000 -- but the impact was felt here, he said. This was a generation's John F. Kennedy assassination moment because everyone remembers where they were when the towers hit. And in addition to the United States of America, the fire service, law enforcement and the military were forever changed.

Cross said it is also important to remember how the nation came together in the days and weeks following the attack.

"Strangers helping strangers, communities helping communities, American flags everywhere," he said. "Communities wrapped their arms around each other. Divisions that so often seem to separate us faded. We rediscovered what it meant to be united, not just in grief but in resolve. That's the spirit I hope we carry forward today and everyday, because remembrance is not just about looking back but also looking ahead. Each of us has a role to play, honoring the legacy of the lives lost. We do that by serving our neighbors, caring for our communities and by teaching our children about that day and ensuring that the words 'Never forget' are more than just a phrase."

Following Cross' speech, Chaplain David Shearer led a prayer in remembrance before the "four fives" were struck. The "four fives" are a tradition held by firefighters in which a bell is rung in four series of five times to remember and honor firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Marshalltown Combined Honor Guard also gave a 21-gun salute, and "Echo Taps" was played at the end of the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

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