Pleasant Valley Fire Department honors lives lost on 9/11

PLEASANT VALLEY, Mo. — Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday morning there were ceremonies at each of these sites to mark the day. There were also ceremonies across the nation, including the Kansas City metro.

“We’ll always honor the heroes of 9/11.” “We’ll never forget their sacrifice.” Those are just some of the powerful words for people to reflect at the Pleasant Valley Fire Department’s Memorial.

In a moving ceremony on Wednesday morning, Pleasant Valley firefighters honored the nearly 3,000 lives that ere lost on September 11, 2001.

“It’s something that as firefighters you don’t think about. If something’s burning, and when everybody else is running out so it’s a great memorial, great memory to honor everybody that passed away in 9/11,” said Phil Hudson, assistant fire chief.

People in the community paid their respects and reflected on the events of that terrible day. Keeping promise of never forgetting what they went through.

“It means a lot, especially to old people like myself,” said Pleasant Valley Mayor James Smith. “It just shows that the country is still interested in being proud of who we are, what we’ve done in the past, and proud of the people that look out after our well-being.”

With the help of donations and volunteers, the department built a memorial site in 2021 .

The memorial features pieces of steel from the World Trade Center site and portrays the Twin Towers sitting on a replica of the Pentagon.

“I love coming out here in the afternoons when the sun shines across this way. It’ll shadow a lot of just the metal on the concrete for you to see what was,” firefighter Jennifer Gallagher said.

Charles Johnston wasn’t alive when 9/11 happened, but had a hand in bringing the memorial site to life. He says it was one of the most rewarding projects he’s ever worked on.

“I want them to remember and think of all the firefighters and police that were there and never forget,” he said.

The department holds this memorial service every year and hopes the community will come out and pay their respects, not just on 9/11.

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