It is hard to believe that this year will mark the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
The events of 9/11 are seared into the memories of many of us. Yet, most of today’s high school sophomores were not even born on September 11, 2001.
A whole generation never experienced the sacrifice made by the 343 firefighters who died in the Towers and the 2,410 policeman and civilians who perished there as well.
A whole generation has not known the fear, angst, and heartbreak we felt that day; and on the days to come as we waited for “the other shoe to drop”.
A whole generation did not know that this was the first attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.
A whole generation does not know that, somehow, we Americans, for 15 years, have kept our country safe.
But, this new generation will shortly acquire the mantle of leadership. And, they will assume the responsibilities that we share with them on this day of Remembrance.
To mark this special occasion, Talbot County is pulling out all the stops to mount a ceremony of remembrance to honor the victims and responders of 9/11 as well as a day of events for firefighters, families and kids. It will honor those who sacrificed their lives for our common cause, it will honor the contributions of the people who keep us safe every day, and it will help our kids understand why they live in a special, caring community though which they can make all other lives better.
The location will be Tilghman Island, and post-ceremony activities will include a community-wide, all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Tilghman Firehouse followed by a “Fireman’s Olympics”, where firefighters from around the region will convene to test their skills against each other.
The remembrance ceremony will be held at Tilghman’s Dogwood Harbor and will begin at 8:30 a.m. The cove, with its skipjacks and workboats along with a multitude of assembled rescue boats, dive team boats and Coast Guard vessels will serve as a dramatic backdrop to the ceremony.
Fire companies from throughout the Eastern Shore will be in attendance in full dress regalia accompanied by over a dozen fire trucks and rescue vehicles; all buffed to a spit and polish shine.
The Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and town police departments will be participating along with military groups, clergy, school bands and choirs, and a wide variety of public officials. All of this, plus some special guests and special touches to be revealed at the ceremony, will make this a truly unique, stirring, and memorable experience.
The Ceremony of Remembrance will be followed by a hearty community-wide breakfast from 9:30 to 11:00. The cost for the all-you-can-eat breakfast is $10 per person (with discounts for EMS, military, police, firefighters, and kids), and all the proceeds will benefit the Tilghman Fire Company and the Fallen Firefighters Fund.
At 11:00 the real fun begins as Fire companies from around the state engage in a test of skills known as the Fireman’s Olympics. At the sound of a siren, firefighters will sprint to their trucks, don their gear, and race their trucks down Tilghman Road to a point where they will undergo a series of firefighting tests. Among other things, these include ladder climbing, forced entry, spraying targets with fire hoses, fire truck driving skills, and rescuing a “survivor” from an overturned car. They will finish up the competition with an old-fashioned bucket brigade. To share the spirit and excitement, there will also be a water balloon contest for kids. Grandstands will be set up so that spectators will have a bird’s eye view of all the events.
Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Jesse Gottleib, Firefighter and Event Coordinator, put it best when he said, “Lights, sirens, horns, and firefighters running to danger should make this an awesome event not just for kids, but also for the kids we have in all of us.”
9/11 will forever be a day that will honor America’s resilience and character.
It is a day that Honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country and, also those who serve it. It is a day that makes our country, our firefighters, our police officers and our community service personnel proud.
It is a day to thank those who sacrificed their lives so that we, as a nation, could lead lives of safety and security.
It is a day we can be proud to be an American.
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