On Sept. 11, members of the Key Largo community gathered inside Fire Station 25 to remember the events that transpired 25 years ago, when four planes overtaken by terrorists crashed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
A total of 2,977 lives were lost that day, including 343 members of the New York City Fire Department. The hourlong ceremony inside the fire station recalled the events on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Several speakers reflected on the day that changed the nation.
“We never forget a day like this,” said Rev. Juan Rios of St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church.
Retired sheriff’s Col. Lou Caputo discussed the many unknowns unfolding as Americans across the country sought more information and answers from the moment the first plane hit the North tower at 8:46 a.m.
“All of us got a phone call. … A friend told you something is happening in New York. Newscasters didn’t know if it was an act of terror or an accident. Was it a big plane or was it a small plane?” he said. “Everybody’s wondering, you as Americans are like ‘Woah,’ because you’re always in tune to what’s happening. Eighteen minutes later, the second plane impacted the tower.
“And then you were watching, riveted to the TV set, watching everything, stunned to watch the heroes rushing into the building, rushing across the bridges going into Manhattan,” Caputo continued. “One of the things we have to take away is so many responders went there. Even to this day they cannot officially tell you how many responders went because so many people self-reported.
“Across America, you’re thinking how can I help. Every fire station and police station across America, men and women said I want to go, send me. Our station on Plantation Key, every deputy signed up on a list. Because they’re responders, they want to help. It’s in their DNA.”
Former New York City firefighter Tommy Rogers took to the microphone during the ceremony. He said his father, brother and he spent more than 80 years with the fire department. He said many firefighters who responded and perished on Sept. 11, 2001 were his friends.
“Forty of them were close friends of mine. They were fathers, grown men who worked hard to get in. We all would have done the same thing they did that day. It’s a commitment to loving your job, loving people,” he said. “We lost invaluable seniority, people who knew the job inside out and backwards.”
