WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH) — Firefighters who died in the line of duty were remembered at a 9/11 memorial service Wednesday at the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.
Flags were lowered to half-staff, while a wreath was placed near a piece of the World Trade Center from 23 years ago.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and in the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Of those, 161 victims had ties to Connecticut.
While most ran out of buildings to save their lives, first responders like New York City firefighter Chris Blackwell ran in.
“He was getting off shift that morning, and as so many other firefighters, when they saw what was happening, he just hopped on a truck, and, unfortunately, they never found his remains,” said retired East Hartford firefighter Tom Levy, who was Blackwell’s friend.
More than 400 emergency workers died that day, many of whom were Connecticut firefighters.
That ultimate sacrifice that firefighters made that day inspired young recruits like Justin Bialecki to follow in their footsteps.
“Realizing the depths and the profession that you’re going into definitely brings a different level of understanding to the sacrifices that those first responders, firefighters, police officers made that day,” said Bialecki, who is a recruit for the Town of Greenwich.
But since that day, the death toll continues to rise.
“There are more firefighters that have lost their lives today to occupational cancer and illness from September 11 than the 343 [New York City Fire Department firefighters] killed that day,” said P.J. Norwood, who is the director of training with the Connecticut Fire Academy.
More than 2,100 rescue workers have died since the attacks.
“I hope America truly never forgets,” Levy said. “It seems like a lot have…but just honor your first responders.”
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