HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — September 11, 2001, changed the United States and its people forever.
“This is one of those events that you remember where you were when you first heard about it and what you were doing things of that nature,” Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles said.
Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives because of the terror attacks.
Giles and Fire Chief Howard McFarlan said they remember it like it was yesterday.
“I walked into my station to relieve the other captain that was there,” McFarlen said. “The first plane had hit the towers. Then at that point, we’re still thinking we’ve got an accident, and then you’re dealing with the firefighter thoughts of ‘there’s no way they can rescue anybody above that flow where the plane hit because of all the jet fuel.’”
When the second plane hit the World Trade Center, McFarlan said he knew our nation was under attack.
Today, Huntsville fire, police, HEMSI, and military personnel attended a memorial service at Huntsville Fire Station One.
“After 911, the first responders went in immediately, but then the military was picking up the fight after that, so I felt like it was a really good representation,” McFarlen said. “I was proud to have everyone here.”
At 7:40 a.m., Huntsville firefighters and first responders from across the city gathered around a fire pole out front of the station.
At 7:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center, they turned on their lights, sirens, and airhorns in remembrance of those who lost their life.
“In New York that day, when the first planes hit, you had all types of emergency vehicles rushing to the scene, and that would have been the sound you’d heard all over the city,” McFarlen said.
While time has passed, he said it’s crucial we continue to remember, so younger generations will understand the effect it had on our nation.
“The thing with 9/11 is, we always say we’ll never forget, and well, we don’t need to, because history seems to repeat itself if you don’t keep up with it,” McFarlen said.
McFarlen said this is an annual event Huntsville Fire and Rescue puts on each year. All 20 of the different fire stations across the country held their own memorial service.
The post ‘Younger generations can read the history books, but we can tell the story’: Huntsville fire & rescue holds 9/11 memorial appeared first on WHNT.
