Memorial events held in South Carolina to honour 9/11 victims
In a profound commemoration held on the morning of Wednesday, September 11, communities in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Clemson, South Carolina, gathered to honor the lives lost during the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
A Ceremony of Remembrance in Greenville
Nearly 50 people congregated at the Boiling Springs Fire District Station Headquarters in Greenville for the solemn occasion. “Every year, we memorialize the events of 9/11/2001 because it’s foundational to who we are as Americans and as the American Fire Service,” stated Boiling Springs Fire Chief Steve Graham.
The Greenville crowd comprised mostly of firefighters, some of whom were not even born when the atrocities occurred. It was imperative to Graham that these young recruits understand what 9/11 represents and their role as firefighters within the broader context of that history.
The fire headquarters itself houses a 9/11 memorial, brought to life by the community who together raised $110,000 for its creation in 2012.
The Stair Climb at Clemson University
Not far away, at Clemson University, faculty, students, and staff joined hands with the wider community. Their tribute to the fire and emergency responders was a poignant Memorial Stadium Stair Climb. Their resounding mantra? “We climb because they climbed.”
Before the climb, the Mayor of Clemson, Robert Halfacre, found words to communicate the gravity of 9/11, saying, “Today is about remembering all the heroes who lost their lives and the sacrifices so many people made.”
Among the climbers were some high school JROTC seniors, passionately out there to honor the fallen firefighters. Payton Taylor, a high school senior from Pendleton’s Air Force JROTC program iterated,“it motivates me to be better and try to get others involved in the fire service.”
Spartanburg Fire Department Remembrance Ceremony
A special ceremony was also held by the City of Spartanburg Fire Department, memorializing the over 400 first responders who lost their lives on that horrific day. Marking a poignant timeline, the remembrance commenced at 8:30 a.m., continuing until 9:11 a.m.
Among the attendees was Mark Giannini, a retired fireman from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and a first responder on 9/11. Giannini stressed the importance of remembering the events of that day and sharing these memories.
“We would do it again if it happened tomorrow. That is just how the fire service and police department are. The way the community came together, supporting one another during that time, as sad as the day was, it was a beautiful thing to see.” He reminiscenced.
As communities across South Carolina gathered to remember, it is clear that the unity and courage on display by the American people post-9/11 continues to resonate. Though the crowds at these memorials may dwindle as the years go by, the spirit behind the phrase We shall never forget remains undying.
