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In 2007, commissioner Don Patterson (fourth from left) joins Hopkins County firefighters (left to right) Forest Densmore, Brian Fairchild, Caleb Melton, Andy Endsley, Herb Scott, Michael Matthews and Josh Ferrell as they all observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the 343 firefighters and others who died on Sept. 11, 2001, as a result of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania. Archive
Year marks 20th anniversary since attack
Today marks the 20th anniversary since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that shook the United States to its core. In the years since, the memories have stayed strong as local first responders have remembered those fallen people.
The following are snippets from News-Telegram editions over the years.
2007
Hopkins County firemen and other county employees Tuesday held a moment of silence to reflect on and remember the many men and women who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The firemen donned their dress uniforms and stood in silence in front of their fire station, where the flags flew at half-mast. It was a solemn reflection on the 343 firefighters, 72 police officers and more than 2,590 others who perished six years ago in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, as well as the 125 killed at the Pentagon and 267 who died in the hijacked airplanes.
2013
Sept. 11, 2001 is a day America will never forget. Many have found ways to honor the individuals who died that horrific day. One way that firefighters and law enforcement officers remember their fallen brethren is by holding a memorial stair climb on or around Sept. 11 each year.
Four members of Sulphur Springs Fire Department loaded their families up Saturday and headed to downtown Dallas for the 3rd Annual Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Capt. Duane Sprague and firefighters Bruce Millard, Rodney Caudle and Joseph Evans were among the 343 firefighters and 70 law enforcement officers who made the 110-floor ascent. The group consisted of firefighters and officers from 119 departments from three different states.
2014
“I was in Sulphur Bluff High School in Coach Wright’s history class. He came in from the breakroom with a TV and told the class ‘We have been hit.’” The whole high school spent the rest of the day watching what happened,” Zandra Peyton said when asked where she was when she first the news. “You realize that America can be hurt. My husband was in the military because of the events of 9/11, four of my brothers were also in the service. One of my brothers is currently in Afganistan right now. After 911 happened, our family knew we wanted to give back.”
2019
DALLAS—Of the 2,996 people who tragically died in 9/11, 343 were firefighters. It’s been 18 years since the day of national tragedy in 2001, but Hopkins County firefighters are taking it upon themselves to remember their fallen brothers in arms as well as pass on this memory to a new generation by participating in the 9/11 memorial stair climb in Dallas this past weekend.
Participants included Rodney Caudle of Hopkins County’s station 20, his sons Bryan and Bradley, Jonathan Barth, a station 20 part-timer, Brennan Murray of Arbala VFD, and Duane Sprague and Joseph Evans from Sulphur Springs Fire Department.