BLUEFIELD, WV (WOAY) – More than two decades later and we will never forget.
The enduring legacy of 9/11 will always bond Americans together through sadness and patriotism.
“We still didn’t realize we were under attack. A few minutes later, on live TV the second plane hits. And we were just in awe,” said Bluefield Fire Department Chief Chad Bailey.
“Pretty much the rest of the day we watched TV and got updates. The sounds that we heard, we knew that it wasn’t good. Firefighters wear alarms that go off if they’re down.
And for the rest of the day, we heard those going off and we knew there was significant loss.”
It’s been 23 years since that fateful day, but we will never forget all those lost on 9/11. You are in our hearts and minds forever.
Despite the passage of time, to the Rev. Garry Moore (Scott Street Baptist Church) 9/11 feels like yesterday.
“Anytime you lose humanity, you lose a part of yourself,” the reverend said.
According to Moore, we need to continue to come together.
“And not just in this country but everywhere else too,” he said. “It’s one thing for us to have the United States as a name. But it’s another thing for us to live it every day. Sometimes we really do need to practice what we preach.”
After 9/11, Bailey says the firefighters were thanked daily. People would stop to let the fire truck in traffic and would even buy them lunch.
“Then all of a sudden it just stopped. You know, people kind of forgot,” said the fire chief. That’s why we’re here today — to remember and try to bring back that focus on doing good for people.”
