Generations come together to remember 9/11 in Kilgore

KILGORE, Texas ( KETK ) – Multiple generations of first responders came together with fire academy recruits to learn the importance of honoring the 9/11 victims who lost their lives.

It’s a day our country will never forget, and the director of the Kilgore college fire academy, John Zackary, remembers the day like it was yesterday and recalls when the first plane hit the world trade center.

“I was a captain at fire station 1 in Longview,” Zackary said. “We immediately knew this was not just pilot error there was something bigger happening and we kind of watched it unfold.”

Zackary organized this year’s ceremony at the Woodruff Adult Education Center. He centered the event around honor, respect and never forgetting.

“The further and further from 9/11 it goes it seems like people forget” said retired pilot, Charlie Hale.

The ceremony started at 8:46 a.m. on Wednesday, in remembrance of the approximate time the first plane crashed into the world trade center.

“Today is important because we have the future of fire, law and EMS standing here as students,” Zackary said.  “When we are no longer in the service, they are going to carry this tradition on of never forgetting and preparing for future events that could unfold.”

They honored the lives lost on that day, with people representing the groups of police, fire, civilians and pilots. This ceremony brought together the multiple generations of first responders. Longview and Kilgore fire fighters joined students for an engine wash, push-in and dedication of fire truck engine #2.

“We used the buckets as a symbolic washing of the engine to clean the engine for service,” Zackary said. “The buckets had two symbolisms’ today and just gave us that physical motor skill to just remember.”

Together the groups looked forward to the future while honoring and remembering both 9/11 and the tradition of the fire service.

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