NYC First Responders Help Dallas Remember 9/11

DALLAS, GA — First responders from Paulding County and New York City gathered at the 9/11 memorial site at Mt. Tabor Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“Tuesday, September 11, 2001, will forever be a day that rocked our nation,” said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge. “We want all our fallen brothers and sisters in public safety, along with their families, to know that we will not forget. We will always remember our service members who continue to fight for our country. As Americans, we all felt the devastation in the face of 9/11, and we will always remember.”

Paulding County Fire Department Chaplain Pastor John Turner gave an invocation. “There were so many that lost their lives, and we pray for those families today that are still suffering from this,” Turner said. “We pray Father that we as Americans would always stand true, honor the flag, and protect our country...we pray Father that we would show our respect to the law officers, to the firefighters, to the first responders, to the linemen, to the doctors and the nurses and all the hospital workers, who have worked so tirelessly.”

In front of a lowered flag, service members rang bells, shot rifles, and laid wreaths in memory of the nearly 3,000 people who died that day. Their names were read later on in the ceremony.

The ceremony also contained remarks from former New York City firefighter Tim Murphy, who now lives in Georgia, and founded the Retired NYC Shields of Georgia for relocated New York service members. On Sep. 11 Murphy was a firefighter with Engine 39 on New York’s Upper East Side. He lost two members from his firehouse that day.

“We will never forget you, and all the men that led the New York Fire Department on that response – the largest response to any emergency in New York City history,” he said. “Leading up to this, I’ve seen a lot of shows talking about mens’ heroic actions that day, firemen, police officers, just average citizens who were helping. And sometimes it makes it seem like wow, my story, your story, how does it compare? How do we tell this story, and feel like we’re helping remember this? To your family, your story, where you were that day, what you felt, what you felt about America going forward as we came together, our kids and grandkids need to know that. Our kids and grandkids need to know that you went through this, wherever you were.”

The City of Dallas has posted the first part of the ceremony on its Facebook page.