ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Thursday marks 24 years since the Sept. 11 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon.
The nation is remembering the lives lost and honoring the first responders who rushed into action. Firefighters in the Rochester area took part in memorial stair climbs earlier this week and are taking part in remembrance ceremonies on Thursday.
Some firefighters participated in annual stair climbs, raising money and honoring fallen firefighters by walking 110 flights, mirroring the efforts of first responders at Ground Zero.
“It’s a time for us to reflect on what they went through and kind of just remind us of the day and what it cost our country and what it cost all of us as first responders,” said Lt. Amy Niespodzinski of the Rochester Fire Department.
Capt. Jeff Serenati of the Irondequoit Fire Department shared that they held a remembrance run. “This year we’re actually doing a remembrance run as well before the ceremony, which is just something specific to the area around the fire department,” Serenati said.
Firefighters said the industry has changed significantly since 9/11. “There are a lot of things in place in the fire service, in emergency services that occurred as a result of the lessons learned from that day,” said Lt. Amy Niespodzinski of the Rochester Fire Department. “How we organize ourselves, how we communicate with ourselves, how we deal with radio traffic.”
“It started with the incident command structure, which has evolved over the decades,” said Capt. Jeff Serenati of the Irondequoit Fire Department. “Now, just to make it a little more streamlined, throughout the nation. And as time goes on, we’re constantly preparing for things like aggressive, deadly behavior, other smaller-scale terrorist events that we’re unfortunately seeing more of, you know, week after week.”
For first responders, they also have a deep connection to Sept. 12th.
“I remember the silence on Sept. 12th. I remember, you know, there was no air traffic. Even road traffic was shut down,” Niespodzinski said. “It was a different tone. It was a different vibe. And I remember driving my car and looking at another driver and there was no road rage. I remember September 12th. That was the day that, I think, impacted all of us.”
Niespodzinski emphasized the significance of 9/11 in American history.
“It was such a pivotal moment in this country’s history. It’s just important to convey that to people who weren’t alive so that they can see that, you know, big events like this really just change. They change the world. They change the country,” Niespodzinski said.
Capt. Jeff Serenati of the Irondequoit Fire Department expressed concern about the fading memory of the attacks.
News10NBC’s Kristi Blake: “Do you think the farther away we get, we start to lose a little bit of that?”
Capt. Jeff Serenati: “I think we do a little bit. I think it’s just natural. But again, it’s up to us as adults, leaders, first responders, politicians, whoever, to continue to push the importance of remembering that significant life event.”
The New York Fire Department has lost more than 400 members to illnesses related to 9/11, surpassing the 343 killed 24 years ago. This week’s ceremony added 39 new names to the memorial in New York City.
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‘It means sacrifice’; Local Firefighters reflect on 24 years since 9/11 attacks WHEC.com.
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