By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Saturday marks 20-years since the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and Bloomington’s Fire Chief wants the younger generation to remember those who lost their lives.
Chief Eric West said the department would be a part of a firefighter memorial event at Miller Park on Saturday at noon.
“My biggest thing is I hope our older senior guys that were around back then have these conversations of what it was like with our younger members. Because you know 20-years, some of the guys that are coming onto our department now are 21, 22, so they were only one or two years old when this all occurred. I think we just need to find a way to make sure those guys understand what occurred; and what it was like when it did.”
Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Chief West said the ceremony would include lowering flags, a gun salute, multiple speakers, and possibly a military flyover.
“You think about it often throughout the year, what happened out there and the number of brothers and sisters that were lost. We never like to see that. We lose enough on our own throughout the year through accidents and cancers and that kind of thing. You know, you just got to try to find a way to get through it. Again, just pass it on to the younger generation what happened and what those feelings were so they don’t forget.”
The service will also feature taps and bagpipes along with a police flag folding presentation.
LISTEN: Bloomington Fire Chief Eric West spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller.
Bloomington Fire Chief Eric West remembers 9/11/01 https://t.co/8joA5r1NhO
— WJBC AM 1230 and FM 102.1 (@WJBC) September 9, 2021
The department will also participate in a memorial service at the Corn Crib at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com.
