CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department held a brief, scaled down ceremony Friday at the High Street station in Caribou recognizing the lives lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Because of restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Scott Susi said they did not advertise the event, but still wanted to remember the sacrifices made by first-responders.
Crews stood outside for a moment of silence at 9:58 a.m., followed by a horn sounding. A remembrance table was also set up outside the station recognizing the people who sacrificed their lives 19 years ago.
CARIBOU, Maine — September 11, 2020 — Caribou Fire and Ambulance Chief Scott Susi salutes following a moment of silence at the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department in honor of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
Susi emphasized the importance of remembering what occurred on that day.
“It was a horrible piece of history,” he said. “Three hundred forty-three firefighters and 37 police officers died that day doing their jobs with no control of the outcomes. I think it’s very important to remember, and that everyone doing the same job knows what can actually happen. Whether it’s a big full-time department like in New York or the volunteer departments like we see in our area, it’s all the same job. The training is all the same, and the education piece is all the same, and we have to remember the lessons that people have taught us, take that, and move forward with it.”
