Firefighters, Police Officers Hold 9/11 Ceremony Published Sept. 13, 2010 By Lori Alves, Volunteer 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs volunteer SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- More than 50 military members and civilians honored the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon during a ceremony hosted by the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and Security Forces. "One of our own was at the Pentagon on Sept. 11," said Senior Airman Don Travers, 4th CES firefighter and a speaker during the ceremony. "It's a day that should never be forgotten even nine years later. We have to remember that freedom isn't free." The hour-long ceremony included a color guard consisting of firemen and defenders, a slide show documenting the terrorist attack, a recording of emergency radio communications from that day, two speakers and a 21-gun salute by security forces members. Several of the slides depicted the 343 firefighters and 60 police officers who were killed in the attacks. "With just three years of service at the time of attacks, I knew enough to know that this would forever be one of my responsibilities as a security forces cop to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Tech Sgt. Elmer Smith, 4th SFS quality control inspector. "We've preached to the troops ever since 9/11 'Not on my watch.'" Staff Sgt. Roger Kemp was serving in the Presidential Honor Guard Team when the plane hit the Pentagon. Sergeant Kemp said most people did not realize the Pentagon had been hit because it was already under construction. "It wasn't until we heard the alarms that we knew something was wrong," said Sergeant Kemp, now a member of the 4th CES Fire Department. "There was nothing we could do at that moment. We watched the Pentagon burn for three days." As an honor guard member, Sergeant Kemp participated in the 184 funerals for victims of the terrorist attack. The Sept. 11 events, in part, prompted him to choose to become a firefighter after finishing his honor guard tour. "It was a humbling experience," Sergeant Kemp said. "I helped arrange the ceremony because it's a day that we need to reflect on the memory of those who died. It's a day that I will never forget." The ceremony ended with a moment of silence for all of the nearly 3,000 fallen victims. Afterward, Sean Quinby, 4th CES fire chief, drummed the fireman's bell three times consecutively including a series of three chimes each time. At a firehouse, it's tradition to ring the bell when a firefighter passes. "Firefighters and police officers do a very brave job," Mr. Quinby said, "sometimes at a terrible cost."