Sibley, Iowa — Firefighters across the state of Iowa held a special observance Friday night, on the 19th anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
The Sibley Fire Department was just one of the departments from across the state that pulled their firefighting apparatus out of their firehouse at 8:46 Friday evening in honor and remembrance of the 343 members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who lost their lives trying to save others after terrorists flew airliners filled with innocent citizens into the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. The 8:46 pm time of the observance was meant to coincide with the time exactly twelve hours after the first plane hit the Trade Center Tower.
In Sibley, firefighters pulled their trucks onto the firehouse driveway and parked, with their emergency lights activated, while a bugler honored the fallen firefighters by playing “Taps”.
Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls says his department, along with other fire departments from around Iowa and the United States, stand firm in their support of the FDNY firefighters who died nineteen years ago.
(As above) “We stand firm in that. We support all firefighters, nationwide. It’s just a remembrance thing, and a respect thing for all those who have fallen.”
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. join other traumatic historical events such as the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kenedy in Dallas, Texas and the December 7,1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as days that will forever be remembered by all who lived through those events.
Below is a video of the 9/11 Anniversary Observance by the Sibley Fire Department ~ Video and still photo courtesy of the Sibley Fire Department.
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Original story posted at 3:39 pm – 9/11/2020
Sibley, Iowa — September 11, 2001 began as a bright, cloudless day, but ended in death for thousands of Americans and led to the United States being involved in a war on terrorism. That was nineteen years ago, and for people that were around back then, the memories are still as fresh as they were that tragic day.
343 FDNY (Fire Department of New York) firefighters lost their lives that day and now, nineteen years later, fire departments all over the country are honoring their fallen brethren on the anniversary of the attacks. Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls says his department is one of many statewide to take part in the observance.
(As above) “All firefighters in Iowa are kind of put to the task of pulling their trucks out of their fire halls, and we’re actually going to utilize our lights, and in some cases our sirens, for approximately one minute.”
Chief Huls says the exact hour of the statewide observance holds significance.
(As above) “The time will be 8:46 pm. That’s twelve hours after the fact of the planes hitting the first (World Trade Center) tower…I believe it was Tower 2…we’re going to be pulling it out to reflect that time.”
Huls says the event is to show support and solidarity for all those who have fallen, but especially for the 343 who lost their lives that Tuesday morning so long ago.
(As above) “We stand firm in that. We support all firefighters, nationwide. It’s just a remembrance thing, and a respect thing for all those who have fallen.”
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. join other traumatic historical events such as the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kenedy in Dallas, Texas and the December 7,1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as days that will forever be remembered by all who lived through those events.
