East Pierce Fire and Rescue Honors 9/11, Country Remembers Fallen During Patriot Day

This year Patriot Day falls on a Tuesday, the same day of the week as that fateful day 11 years ago when terriorists struck New York City and Washington, DC.

President Obama has requested that the American flag be flown at half-staff at individual American homes, at the White House, and on all U.S. government buildings and establishments, home and abroad.

The President also asks Americans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. (EDT), the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

At 6:59 a.m.,  the time of the collapse of the first tower of the World trade Center, all on-duty East Pierce personnel and their families assembled at the flag pole at their respective stations.  The Company Officer called the firefighters to attention. They saluted while the station flags were lowered to half-staff.  Those in attendance observed a minute of silence in honor of victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001, particularly those fire service personnel who have lost their lives in the performance of their duties. 

“While we will all remember these events privately in our own personal way, it is also important that we join with the fire service across the world in a more public remembrance of the sacrifices that were made by our fire service brothers and sisters as well as the law enforcement and EMS personnel and private citizens who died on September 11,” said Thorson.

Upon completion of the ceremony, the following message was added to the reader boards at all district stations: WE WILL NOT FORGET.

Flags will remain at half-staff and the reader board message will remain in place until 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 12th. 

We now recognize this date each year as Patriot Day. President George W. Bush signed into law on Dec. 18, 2001, declaring the day be set aside to remember the 2,977 killed on that day.

In 2009, a presidential proclamation declared the annual date, Sept. 11, be as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The proclamation calls on Americans to "participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with other ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services ... to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."

Are you doing anything special to remember 9/11? Tell us in the comments.