09/12/2026
Today, we pause to remember September 11, 2001—a day that forever changed our nation and left an enduring mark on the first responder community.
From here in the Midwest, we may have been miles away, but on that morning, we stood with our brothers and sisters in the fire service, law enforcement, EMS, dispatch, and every other profession that answered the call.
We remember the firefighters who climbed the stairs while others came down. We remember the police officers who ran toward danger to protect complete strangers. We remember the paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, and countless other first responders who worked tirelessly amid unimaginable chaos.
Many made the ultimate sacrifice. Others survived, but carried home injuries, memories, and burdens that would last a lifetime.
Their actions remind us what it means to wear the uniform: to serve when others need help, to run toward danger when others are running away, and to put the safety of others before ourselves.
Today, we honor every first responder who answered the call on September 11th, and we remember every life lost that day.
May we never forget their courage, their sacrifice, their families, or the legacy they left behind.
From our department here in the Midwest: We remember. We honor. We stand together. And we will never forget.
