For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee
Chief Robert Palmer led a ceremony for the fallen of Sept. 11, 2001 on Saturday morning at 7:15 a.m. The ceremony included the ringing of the bell to signify that, “For our comrades, their last alarm, they have come home.” The memorial program was held at the fire station one at 1400 West. 8th St., The Dalles.
By Tom Peterson
A group of firefighters, police and civic leaders and citizens gathered at Mid Columbia Fire & Rescue on Saturday morning, Sept. 11, at 7:15 a.m. to commemorate the tragic loss on Sept. 11, 2001.
The ceremony was led by Fire Chief Robert Palmer.
“On that fateful day, terrorists flew two planes into the Twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane into the Pentagon just outside of Washington D.C., and a fourth plane into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” Palmer said.
This memorial was on display at the ceremony at Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue. It is made with structural members of the Twin Towers and the 343 is the number of firefighters who were killed that day in 2001.
A Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of fuel hit the first Tower at 8:45 a.m. on that Tuesday morning. Eighteen minutes later the second 767 hit the second Tower.
This memorial was on display at the ceremony at Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue. It is made with structural members of the Twin Towers and the 343 is the number of New York Firefighters who were killed that day in 2001.
“This was the most lethal terrorist attack in U.S. history, killing almost 3,000 people; 343 of those people killed were members of the New York Fire Department,” Palmer told the crowd. “There were 75 differing fire stations in which at least one member was killed, and 78 countries lost citizens. The New York Fire Department lost its fire chief, its first deputy commissioner, one of its marshals, and one of its Chaplains, as well as other administrative and specialty personnel. “
“An estimated 400,000 people were exposed to the toxic cloud in lower Manhattan following the plane crashes. Today, The U.S. federal program tracking 9/11 related illness has more than 81,000 emergency responders, Ground Zero workers, and volunteers enrolled, along with over 30,000 survivors who worked, lived or went to school nearby.”
“The life of a firefighter is closely associated with the ringing of a bell,” Palmer said. “As one begins their hours of duty it is the bell that starts it off and so through the day and night, each alarm is sounded by a bell, which calls a firefighter to fight fires and to place their life in jeopardy, for the good of his fellow man. And when their fire is out and the alarm has come to an end, a special signal of three rings, three times, each represents the end of their duties and that the firefighter will be returning to quarters, their duties well done. As a symbol of honor and respect to those who have served so well, we will now sound the bell for the fallen of September 11th. For our comrades, their last alarm, they have come home.”
The following are the invocation and benediction as given at the ceremony
From St. Paul’s Episcopal Priest Marilyn Roth:
Invocation
Good and gracious God,
Today we come before you with heavy hearts as we remember the events of 9/11.
For some of us, today is still a mixed bag of emotions. We hurt deeply for those who lost their lives and those who lost their loved ones. We mourn the nearly 3,000 who died that day.
We are humbled by the bravery of the first responders. We continue to grieve with our neighbors in the loss of our national innocence — our false sense of constant safety.
As we think of the way New York and D.C. responded, as churches, synagogues, and temples opened their doors to ALL people, as strangers carried each other out of buildings, as those who had shared with those who had lost — as we remember the bravery of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 our pride wells up in us.
We still remember how the world responded, supporting us and even declaring us one people. “Today We Are ALL Americans,” the headlines read. God of all people, teach us to be patriotic, but humbly so. Teach us to see the frailty, beauty, and value of life in light of this tragedy.
Call us back to that place in our hearts. Instill in us the deepest sense of call to be that people once again.
We lift up to you all those who, 20 years later, suffer from the loss. From N.Y.C. to Iraq, the tragedy has deeply and profoundly affected millions. May we continue to heal and help each other just as we did that day. Amen.
From Fire Chaplain Doug Marquardt:
Benediction
God of grace and God of glory, on this 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, grant us the wisdom to remember the lessons from that tragic day that make us more Christ-like. Drive away from us any vengeful urges, any hate-filled sentiment, any whisper from within or without that goads us to return evil for evil.
As we look back and recall where we were, who was with us and how we felt that fateful day, may those vivid memories compel us to acts of kindness, words of love and demonstrations of community. May the images of helpers – firefighters, police officers, office workers, ordinary citizens – be the icons that inspire us to be helpers, too.
We pray for those whose lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001. Grant comfort to those who grieve. Strengthen those who struggle with questions that remain unanswered. Assure those who worry that they should have said or done something differently that you gather up all the fragments of our lives, bless and use them in ways that nourish.
We pray for those who every day put their lives in danger in order to protect and serve others. We pray for all first responders, for medical personnel, police officers, firefighters and others who never know what a shift at work will bring on any given day. Grant them wisdom, courage, and rest.
We pray for those too young to remember and those who have been born since that day. May they consider that fall day years ago, and to cling to the examples of goodness that emerged out of the horror. May they be inspired by the stories of strangers banding together to thwart more carnage, people lining up to donate blood, congregations opening their doors to offer respite for anyone and everyone, people offering comfort and care to those they knew and those they’d never met. May these acts of mercy emulated in our lives be the ripple that reverberates through history, revealing your sure power to bring redemption, reconciliation, and resurrection out of the depths of death and despair.
We pray for all of us that when we mark anniversaries of sorrow, may they be occasions to discern what truly matters, let go of what really doesn’t and recognize your grace, Almighty God, that pervades it all.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
