09/11/2026
Today, we gathered with heavy hearts to remember September 11, 2001āa day that
changed our nation forever.
We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent people who lost their lives that day. We remember the
passengers, office workers, first responders, and all those who made the ultimate
sacrifice. We remember the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical
personnel, and civilians who ran toward danger while others were trying to escape it.
As firefighters, we understand the call to serve. We know the risks that come with
entering burning buildings, facing uncertainty, and placing the safety of others above
our own. On that day, our brothers and sisters demonstrated the highest traditions of
the fire service. They climbed the stairs not because they were unaware of the danger,
but because people needed help.
343 never came home.
Their courage continues to guide us. Their sacrifice reminds us that the fire service is
more than a professionāit is a commitment to compassion, duty, and service to
others. We honor their memory not only with words, but by the way we conduct
ourselves every day: by training harder, serving humbly, supporting one another, and
standing ready when our communities need us most.
We also remember the families who lost loved ones and the survivors who continue to
carry the pain of that day. Their loss did not end on September 11. It continues
through anniversaries, memories, and the empty places left behind.
Today, we also recognize the first responders who became ill in the years that
followed. Their service continued long after the towers fell, and their suffering is part
of the legacy we must never forget.
Let us remember the names, the faces, and the lives behind the numbers. Let us teach
future generations about the courage shown that day. And let us honor those we lost
by choosing unity over division, service over selfishness, and hope over fear.
May we never forget the innocent lives taken, the heroes who answered the call, and
the families who continue to carry their memory.
On behalf of the Kent Volunteer Fire Department, we offer our deepest respect and
gratitude.
We remember.
We honor.
We will never forget
Fire Chief Tim Sneller
