Firefighters, police plan 9/11 remembrance

Madison fire and police departments will present “September 11th Memorial Ceremony” on Sept. 11 at Madison Fire Station 2 at 7:46 a.m. In 2013, Madison firefighters Ryan Gentry, Josh Bradley, Jason Tidwell and Jonathan Chapman climbed 110 stories in Nashville to honor New York firefighters who responded to terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A “September 11th Memorial Ceremony” for city residents will be held on Sept. 11 at Madison Fire Station 2, 1115 Hughes Road.

Firefighters in Madison Fire and Rescue Department and officers in Madison Police Department are conducting the remembrance event, which is open to the public.

The event will begin at 7:46 a.m., which coincides with the time of day that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, Community Relations Officer Russ Kennington with the fire department said.

Madison Fire and Rescue’s Honor Guard and Madison Police Department’s Honor Guard will preside at the ceremony.

“The ceremony should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. It will include raising of the colors, moments of silence in recognition of those who lost their lives that day and ringing of the bell signifying the last alarm for the firefighters who died,” Kennington said.

The fire and police departments invite all residents to attend and stay after the ceremony for “coffee, donuts and conversation. We hope to see you there,” Kennington said.

Madison has a definite, direct connection to the recovery effort in Manhattan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Several Madison police officers traveled to Ground Zero and helped New York City first responders in reclaiming a sense of normalcy to the city.

In addition, four Madison firefighters completed a strenuous drill in Nashville in 2013 to remember colleagues who died during terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“As it is for everyone, 9/11 carries a special significance to the fire service,” Kennington said. “That day, 343 of our brothers died.”

For more information, call Madison Fire and Rescue Department at 256-772-3326.