CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Chillicothe Fire Department will hold a public memorial service Sept. 11 honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, marking the 25th anniversary of the day nearly 3,000 people were killed, including 343 New York City firefighters who died responding to the World Trade Center.
The Firefighters’ Memorial Service is set for 8:30 a.m. at Station 1, 54 East Water Street, the department said in a Facebook post inviting the community to attend. The post asked residents to “come together to honor the lives lost, remember the heroes, and stand united in service.”
Congress designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day in legislation signed into law in December 2001, calling on the president to issue an annual proclamation directing that the American flag be flown at half-staff and that Americans observe a moment of silence in memory of those killed in the attacks. Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, but communities across the country, including fire and police departments, mark the date with ceremonies honoring first responders.
The Chillicothe Fire Department traces its roots to Feb. 26, 1879, when City Council passed an ordinance formally establishing the department after studying how other cities organized their fire protection, according to city records. The department has operated out of Station 1 as its headquarters for decades, responding to fires, medical emergencies and other calls throughout the city.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Chillicothe.
