9/11 Victims

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. The first attack came at 8:48 a.m. when a hijacked airliner crashed into the North Tower. Numerous FDNY units witnessed the attack and a third alarm assignment was immediately dispatched. Upon their arrival at the incident scene, the focus of the firefighters’ efforts was the rescue of civilians trapped in the burning tower. At 9:02 a.m., a second hijacked airliner struck the South Tower. Firefighters immediately began to climb to the upper floors of the second tower to evacuate trapped civilians. At 9:50 a.m., the South Tower collapsed, killing scores of firefighters. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m., killing many more. 341 FDNY firefighters were killed, from the Chief of Department to probationary firefighters with less than a month on the job. I chose you today to honor in the Lancaster, PA 9/11 Memorial Climb. It was an honor to climb the 110 flights while carrying your photo. I wonder what you were thinking as you answered your call of duty that day. I can only imagine. I wonder where you were exactly and how many lives you helped save the day. I wonder how your family is doing and how they remember you. Thank you Brian for being the amazing hero that we’ll never forget. -Cheryl McClune