Shoemakersville Fire Company hosted a memorial on Sept. 10 in honor of the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
Fire companies from all over the tri-state area came out to support the event, some companies traveling as far as New York. The day included a parade and a community block party.
“It’s all about camaraderie,” said Shoemakersville Fire Company Lieutenant Tim Seyfert, who has organized the event in the past.
“We’re all one big family here, this is what we do,” said Lyons Fire Company firefighter Todd DeLong.
Before the memorial, the fire company hosted a parade, which consisted of all of the visiting firemen and their engines. It even featured Shoemakersville Fire Company’s 1926 American LaFrance fire truck, their first ever, which was decommissioned following the event.
The parade was followed by a block party at the Shoey fire station, which served as an opportunity for the members of the surrounding community to interact with the firefighters that attended.
“We have this event every or other year or so,” said Seyfert. “But this year, we wanted to do something special for the 15th anniversary.”
A brief memorial service was held during the block party.
The service featured Congressman Charlie Dent, Berks County Commissioner Mark Scott, Shoemakersville Fire Company’s Deputy Fire Chief David Rubright, the Reverend Walter Breiner from St. Luke’s Union Church in Shoemakersville, and Nancy Rodriguez who was an emergency dispatcher in New York City on the day of the attacks.
“Everyone here probably remembers where they were on that day,” said Rodriguez during her speech. “Nothing could have prepared us for that.”
“I commend and respect all of the firefighters, officers and paramedics that were at the towers that day,” she said. “I also respect and commend the many volunteer firefighters that Berks County has.”
The memorial service concluded with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
After the memorial service, the block party continued the event with recreational games, food, a beer garden and local vendors.
The block party concluded with fireworks.
