Today members of the Irmo Fire District are attending the 9/11 Memoria Service in Columbia. It’s been 23 years since the attack of 9/11, long enough for a motivated young person to have joined the military, served a full 20 year career and retired. Most of the current members of our organization joined the fire service after 9/11. Some of them weren’t even born yet. The shock and horror of 9/11 are remembered by those of us who woke up to the news, but lost on those who didn’t. As time passes we see the memory fade a bit, and fewer adults know what 9/11 meant to others. What endures for those of us who serve the public is the spirit of sacrifice. Hundreds of firefighters ran into danger and saved 20,000 people from the twin towers. It’s what we do, it’s what we train for, it’s why we’re here. We hope the events of 9/11 never happen again. We strive to remember the 343 firefighters who never made it out so that we don’t forget the price of freedom, the valor in sacrifice, and the memories of those we lost. But if it does happen again, we’ll see people running towards the problem, to help others, to save others, despite the risks. Just like we’ve always seen. We’ll come for you.