09/12/2025
I was 10 years old. I will never forget the tense shift in my classroom and the confusion coming home to both my parents waiting for my siblings and I, worry marking their faces on this uncertain day. I may not have understood the depth of tragedy at the time, but I have never forgotten the feeling. 343 Firefighters as well as police, paramedic/EMTs and security officers rushed in to save others and never came back home to their families- to a first responder family like mine - and thousands of civilians perished in the blink of an eye. Our world changed that day, and it hasn't stopped changing since. But just like we realized on 9/11/2001, we are stronger together.
Today we pause to honor the lives lost and the countless heroes who answered the call on September 11, 2001. Twenty-four years later, we still remember the bravery, the sacrifice, and the resilience that defined that day.
At Valley Fire Protection District, we stand with our brothers and sisters in the fire service, law enforcement, EMS, and with every American who carries the memory of 9/11 in their heart.
We will never forget the 343 firefighters and the thousands of civilians who never came home. Their courage continues to inspire us to serve with dedication and compassion every single day.
May we always remember, always honor, and always strive to live in a way that carries forward their legacy.
