About 100 people came together at Ivy Tech Community College Wednesday morning to remember the lives lost 18 years ago on 9/11.
Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and retired Indiana State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson were among those who spoke at the event. They emphasized the need for Americans to come together and to support first responders.
Greeson also stressed the importance of remembering those first responders who are still dealing with the effects of 9/11.
He said after the attacks on the World Trade Center 64 firefighters and emergency personnel left Indiana that night to assist with recovery. Twenty-seven of those 64 have some sort of illness that can be traced back to their time helping.
“Last week we honored fallen firefighters in Indiana up in Indianapolis at the state memorial,” Greeson said. “We added ten names to the limestone columns.”
Three of those firefighters – Jacqueline Phillips, Barry Green and Sam Scott – died from 9/11-related illnesses.
Bloomington Deputy Fire Chief Jayme Washel said that is part of what makes the event especially meaningful for firefighters.
“They did it knowing that that could be the ultimate sacrifice and they may not come home that day,” Washel said. “We all do that every day. You never know when it’s gonna be your last call.”
Bloomington Firefighters Union Local 586 helped plan the event with the city of Bloomington.
A beam from the structure of the World Trade Center is on permanent display in front of Cook Pavilion on Ivy Tech’s campus.
