Mayor Don Walters and Fire Chief Chris Martin announce that the City of Cuyahoga Falls will host a Last Alarm Memorial Service to mark 20 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The service will begin at 8:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at the Downtown Amphitheater, 2085 Front Street. The community is invited to attend.
“It is almost unfathomable to believe that it has been 20 years since 9/11 when we, as a country, faced such loss and devastation,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “This year, we will come together with community members who would like to take a moment to remember, honor, pray, grieve – whatever they need – while knowing they have a community of support surrounding them.”
“We are paying our respects to the fallen safety forces of the 9/11 attacks with a Last Alarm service because it symbolizes the sacrifices that were made that day in the name of service to others,” said Fire Chief Martin. “Our department and community continue to honor and remember those lost in the attack and those we have lost since due to 9/11 related illnesses.”
Mayor Don Walters and Fire Chief Chris Martin will deliver opening remarks. At 8:46 a.m., bell ringing will begin to signal the Last Alarm Service. The bells, which consist of three rings, three times each, signify the end of the last call of the firefighters whose lives were lost while responding to the calls to service in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The bells signal the firefighters to come home. The Last Alarm service is a tradition at the funerals of fallen firefighters. Following the ringing of the bells, there will be moment of silence and then a keynote address that will be delivered by Fire Captain Matthew Kee. The event is free to the community, but donations will be collected in support of the Safety Forces Support Center from anyone who would like to make a financial contribution.
In addition to the memorial in Cuyahoga Falls, the City of Akron and County of Summit are hosting a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, at 8:46 a.m., at InfoCision Stadium, 375 E. Exchange Street. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Safety Forces Support Center. The event is being held to pay tribute to the first responders and civilians who died during the World Trade Center attack on September 11th. Participants will climb 78 flights of stairs, which is the furthest any firefighter got that day. For those who want the extra challenge, participants can then decide to continue the course to climb all 110 stories. For more information or to register for the event, please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Akron/911MemorialStairClimb?fbclid=IwAR16RrNLGPl8_c05kljcumDwEfAvlE7Mq1Yy-jiSdMIDqmMGTi81FNsG6bI