Wilmington Fire Department hosts 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Fire Department held its annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Wednesday morning.

Dozens of people attended the event at the Wilmington Fallen Firefighters Memorial, which includes a piece of steel recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York City.

The event also honors those who have given their lives in the line of duty to the City of Wilmington.

Wilmington City Councilman Luke Waddell was the keynote speaker.

Jimmy Sanders was a New York City firefighter who responded after the attack on the World Trade Center.

He moved to the Wilmington area in 2019 and explained why he attended the event.

“I just try to make sure I am somewhere to remember all the guys that we lost, even though it’s been well over 20 years,” Sanders said. “It’s still very, very important that we remember.”

There were 343 members of the FDNY that died on September 11, 2001.

Five of the firefighters killed that day were from Sanders’ firehouse.

Sanders added it’s important to remember the first responders who died after the initial attack as well.

The FDNY said in the 23 years since, more than 370 firefighters have died of World Trade Center related illnesses.