MOUNT VERNON — With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States many local firefighters and first responders looked back on the events of that infamous day. It was a time of sacrifice and heroism for those on the scene not knowing what to expect but ready to do their jobs. Many lost their lives that day trying to save others. Many others had their lives changed forever by that day.
Chief Larry Stimpert of the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District emphasized the fact that what firefighters and medical personnel did that day was just their job.
“Firefighters are one big family,” he said. “Regardless of whether they are local here in Knox County or in New York City. It’s a brotherhood and when one of us falls, we all take a hit.”
Stimpert said all firefighters face the same dangers day in and day out whether it’s the World Trade Center in NYC or a barn fire in Knox County.
“We don’t have high-rise buildings here but in the larger cities they still have the situations we have,” he said.
“The biggest thing is that on that day 343 firefighters lost their lives in that terrorist act and we just can’t forget that. They knew what they were going into and they did their job. We run in when everyone else is running out.”
Lt. Jason Bostic, a firefighter with the Fredericktown Community Fire District, feels it was a day that engendered many changes.
