Fort Meade Honors Police and Firefighers in 9/11 Ceremony

Fort Meade's leaders and its firefighters gathered Friday morning to honor the first responders of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Freaturing guest speakers who witnessed the carnage first-hand, the ceremony highlighted sacrifices made and stressed the importance to "never forget." 

Fort Meade Fire Chief Ed Rouvet oversaw the ceremony and opened the event with a few words.

"We can name the third string running back of our favorite team, but can we name the brave men and women who sacrified their lives on that day?" Rouvet said. 

Before introducing the featured guests, Rouvet held a sobering full minute of silence. 

Jim Angerett spoke first and shared his experience as the captain of the first engine to arrive at the Pentagon. He was followed by another Washington D.C. firefighter, Allen Wallace, who personally witnessed the plane crash into the west side of the Pentagon.

"I knew it was a Boeing 757, there was no doubt in my mind," Wallace said. He and his colleagues suffered cuts, scratches and burns but conitinued to work the flames. It was what needed to be done, he said. 

The ceremony climaxed as Rouvet introduced New York Port Authority Police Officer John Gorman.

Gorman woke up around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001 after working the midnight shift. After learning of the news, he hopped in his car and drove towards the towers.

"I didn't take my phone. You're not thinking about anything," Gorman said. "I could see the smoke and there wasn't another car on the turnpike."

Gorman worked alongside New York police and firefighters for several days straight following the attacks. 

"Be the second night of working, we began to learn who was missing [within the departments]," Gorman said. "The last two people pulled out alive were both Port Authority police officers." 

Gorman not only spoke of 9/11, but of his view on the attack itself and its impact on the country.

"9/11 woke us up. It taught us and united us like we hadn't been for 60 years," he said. "9/11 changes us, but it did not defeat us."

Following his remarks, Gorman gave the Fort Meade Fire Department several pieces of memorabilia, including a piece of stripped aluminum from the side of the World Trade Center.

The ceremony concluded with a booming performance of "Amazing Grace" played on babgpipes by Michael Laney of the Air Force's Armaments Cooperation Division.