By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Fire Department will open its doors this Friday, September 11, for its annual 9/11 Memorial Open House, giving community members an opportunity to pause, remember and honor those who lost their lives 25 years ago.
The memorial will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. in the department’s Tribute Hall, made possible by the Bennington Firefighters Memorial Foundation, with guests welcome to come and go as their schedules allow.
A centerpiece of the department’s memorial is a steel beam recovered from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The approximately 6,000-pound beam has been on display in Bennington since 2011 and remains illuminated around the clock as a permanent reminder of the lives lost and the sacrifices made by first responders.
The memorial area also includes a garden lined with flags bearing the names of firefighters who died in the line of duty, providing a quiet place for reflection and remembrance.
This year’s observance carries added significance as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is using the milestone to emphasize not only remembrance, but also the importance of passing the stories and lessons of 9/11 on to younger generations. The museum notes that approximately 100 million Americans are now too young to remember the events firsthand.
For the Bennington Fire Department, the local memorial provides an opportunity to make that history tangible, particularly for those who were not alive when the attacks occurred. It also serves as a reminder of the risks faced by firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and other first responders every day.
The department’s memorial has become a place where the community can reflect on the lives lost, the bravery displayed in the aftermath and the unity that followed one of the darkest days in American history.
The Bennington Fire Department’s 9/11 memorial remains open to the public year-round, but Friday’s open house will provide a special opportunity for community members to visit the memorial, ask questions, and mark the 25th anniversary together.
The Bennington Fire Department will be open for its 9/11 Memorial Open House Friday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend at any time during the event.
