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EMS1 community reflects on 9/11 meaning, memories

Many younger EMS1 fans on Facebook were in school when 9/11 unfolded

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AP Photo/David Handschuh
A mourner traces the name of a victim of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the attacks Sunday at the National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York.

By EMS1 Staff

EMS1 asked our fans on Facebook to reflect on several aspects of the tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001, when more than 3,000 people were killed, including two New York City Fire Department paramedics, and eight EMTs and paramedics from private agencies.

Answers given by fans expressed a full range of emotions — sorrow, anger, pride, gratitude and more.

Many of the younger fans were in school when those fateful events unfolded, and grew up inspired to join the fire service in memory of the sacrifice firefighters made on that day.

Here are some of the highlights from our Facebook page — and please share your own stories and memories in the member comments section below.

How do you turn this tragedy into inspiration?
I remember we are all here for each other. That if we do not help the ones who are hurt, then we are showing we don’t care about our country. We will do what we can to let people know we care about them and our country. –April Smith London

It keeps me doing what I do so that it was not in vain. I treat my patients better now, trying harder to look past their clothes or the addictions or the situation that put them in my care. We all bleed the same blood, regardless of what we believe. We all have moms and friends and things we believe in. –Lenda Rowe-Greene

I was a senior in high school 10 years ago. I had no direction at that point, and the attacks inspired me to get into emergency medicine. –Kitt Euler

I was in the 5th grade on 9/11/2001, and the attacks inspired me to serve and help others at all costs. This July I graduated paramedic school and I am also a firefighter. –Douglas Shann

What would you like to tell our fallen heroes of 9/11?
You will always be in our hearts, and we miss you each and every day. Thank you for all you have done. You did not die in vain. –Tifani Ann Johnson

Because of you and your selfless sacrifice, I am a better person, a better EMT. –Brian Ketchum

There are not enough words to express the gratitude for what you did. Your bravery and example showed what heroes you truly were and are. Rest in peace. –Angie Rios

Ten years pass and the tears remain. We will never forget the sacrifices you made and the courage of those you left behind to carry on. God bless you all! –Lonnie L. Knudson

After 10 years, what does 9/11 mean to you now?
A day that changed history in my lifetime. It was the advent of increased security, changed how we travel, perceive other people, and live our lives. It not only changed the NYC skyline- it changed our lives. –Anita Grey Nikiel

That we are stronger and we stand up for each other instead of looking the other way. Being proud of our profession, whether paid or volunteer. Always having a backup plan. –Lenda Rowe-Greene

That we are one stronger nation. We may all not like each other, but in times of crisis we all come together for one cause. Wither we are medics, firefighters, police officers, or other professions, and we are proud of what we do. –Kaedy Wilson

‎9/11 means that you carry on the same way the others did, day in and day out. –Johnny Miko

What were you doing when you heard the news?
Accepting a job offer that also changed the course of my life. Nothing will be the same and respect is due to all those first responders who do what they do, which is to pick up a friend when they’re down, no questions asked. –Dan Nolan

I was in my EMT class and my fire department pager went off. About a minute later, every pager in my class went off calling us back to our stations. We all got really quiet because we couldn’t believe it. I lived in New York upstate and had seen the Twin Towers. My heart broke. –Kelly Martin

I was 17. I stayed the night at a friend’s house. My mom called me and told me “Terrorists just blew up New York.” I panicked, because when I saw the news broadcasts, it looked exactly like that. Hard to believe that was 10 years ago. –Alex Munse

Just got off the ambulance two hours prior. I went to sleep and woke up to my pager going off asking for me to call in with my status for possible deployment. Four hours later, we were activated. –Tiffany White

I was 24-years-old and finishing my first year as an EMT. My dad woke me up and said a plane had crashed into the WTC. I was getting ready for my shift when I saw the second plane hit the building. I finished getting dressed and raced to work. We were on tactical alert for a whole month. We were posted at different parts of the county for 12-hour shifts. It was one of the saddest days of my life. – Richard Anthony Carmona