Firefighter: 9/11 had ‘tremendous impact on my life’

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, had a tremendous impact on my life.

I was in Boston that day among the chaos, confusion, panic and fear. I remember trying to get a hold of my sister who lived in the New York City and worked in Lower Manhattan.

I remember finally giving up knowing my cell phone calls weren’t going to get through no matter how many times I pressed redial. I was just one of millions trying to make a cell phone call to loved ones in New York City.

I remember the feeling of anger and loss later that day when I found out that my good friend’s father, Garnet “Ace” Bailey was on United Flight 175, the plane seen live on TV tipping it’s wings and destroying the South Tower. I still remember the following days experiencing what felt like every emotion known to psychology.

I don’t need a special 10-year anniversary to remind me of that day.

There shouldn’t be extra attention given to the 10-year mark, it’s just another year and there will be more to follow and each anniversary should be special. We should honor the 2,977 who were murdered that day and the estimated 90,000 first responders, some of whom have died or are slowing dying of illnesses developed from their work “on the mound” at Ground Zero in the days, weeks, months and years that followed every year the same way.

Although it’s been 10 years, the courageous acts and the ultimate sacrifice given that day by the first responders murdered at Ground Zero doesn’t seem so far away. They are remembered and honored everyday our men and women in uniform jump on a fire truck and respond to a stranger in need of help, put on badge and get behind the wheel of their police car to patrol the community or take care of a sick patient in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

It’s up to us to keep the memory of that day alive.

It’s up to each of us to remember what it felt like to walk down the street and see an American flag on each house and the sense of pride that we are strong and will not be beaten. To once again feel that sense of community and connection we all felt to each other and this great country.

To never forget.

So this year means the same as each of the nine that have come before and the ones that will inevitably follow.

For Garnet “Ace “ Bailey (June 13, 1948 – Sept. 11, 2001) and all who died that day, we have not and will not forget.