Ashland Fire and Police Honor 9/11 Heroes with Patriotic Memorial Service
ASHLAND — On Thursday morning, a solemn and patriotic ceremony was held at Ashland Fire Department Station #1 as firefighters, police officers, city leaders, and community members gathered to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The memorial service drew representatives from both the Ashland Fire Department and Ashland Police Division, who stood shoulder to shoulder on the station’s sidewalk, heads bowed in respect. Ashland City Council members Ward 1 President Steve Workman, Ward 3’s Dennis Miller, Ward 4’s Angela Woodward, and Council-at-Large member Dan Lawson joined Fire Chief Rick Anderson, Administrative Assistant Sally Strine, Executive Director of Ashland Main Street Sandra Tunnell, Ashland Kroc Center Major Billy Francis and guest speaker Austin Rissler, Chaplain of the Ashland City Fire Department.
Chaplain Rissler delivered a stirring message, reminding those gathered of the extraordinary courage displayed on that fateful morning 24 years ago.
“On that morning, when towers burned and the world shook, hundreds of First Responders rushed forward into the smoke and flame. Many of which never returned,” Rissler said. “They did not die in vain; they gave their lives so that others might live… Their selflessness stands as a beacon, reminding us of the cost of service and the value of every life saved.”
Rissler drew on Scripture, quoting John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He urged today’s firefighters and officers to let that legacy of sacrifice inspire their own service, describing their calling as “holy work.”
Following the ceremony, Ashland Fire Chief Rick Anderson spoke about the importance of keeping 9/11 remembrance alive, especially for younger generations.
Anderson said of the service, It’s because obviously you never want to forget anything like this. As tragic as it was for not only civilians, law enforcement, fire personnel, things like that — it’s important to keep the history, the what-happened, the what-ifs, alive. It changes the perspective of how you look at things.”
Chief Anderson also shared his own vivid memories of that morning. “We had a class scheduled here at the firehouse. One of the guys had gone to the store and came back saying a plane had hit the tower in New York. At first, we thought it was a small accident. Then we realized it was a jet plane. We were in the day room, glued to the TV, watching when the second plane hit. From then on, it was just waiting to see what was going to happen, how far this would go, and who might be next.”
The chief recalled the heightened anxiety for first responders that day, particularly with uncertainty about further attacks. “Chief Burgess brought up the point that with the Pentagon also hit, and the West Coast three hours behind us, what else could happen as the day went on? For first responders, tensions were high. It’s something you don’t forget.”
Anderson emphasized that the attacks forever changed how first responders approach their work. “Awareness drastically changed. The what-ifs are always in the back of your mind. You have to look at and approach things much differently than before. It reshaped how we respond, and that remains with us today.”
September 11, 2001 remains the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. Four passenger planes were hijacked by al-Qaeda operatives. Two were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, another into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., while a fourth—United Flight 93—was heroically forced down by passengers into a Pennsylvania field before it could strike another target.
In total, 2,977 people were killed: 2,753 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania. Among them were 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers—first responders who knowingly ran toward danger while thousands of others fled.
The attacks forever altered the course of U.S. history, reshaping national security, military policy, and the collective memory of a generation. Every year, communities across the nation hold remembrance services to ensure that, as the national mantra declares, “We Will Never Forget.”
Thursday’s ceremony at Station 1 was more than a moment of silence. It was a declaration of unity, courage, and gratitude. City Council members and public safety officers stood united, demonstrating that even in a small Midwestern town like Ashland, the memory of 9/11 continues to resonate powerfully.
As the memorial concluded, we stood quietly—reflecting on the lives lost, the bravery shown, and the enduring reminder that freedom and safety are secured by those willing to serve.
In Ashland, just as in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania, the message echoed clear: may we never forget.
