Pegram holds inaugural 9/11 tribute

A 9/11 Memorial Event sponsored by the Pegram Fire Department (PFD) took place on Monday Sept. 11 during dusk at Pegram Park.

The event was the idea of PFD Engineer Taylor Davidson. Davidson and his wife, Starr, were inspired to do this to honor and remember the lives lost this tragic day 22 years ago and were responsible for organizing and planning the event.

Pictures of the 343 firefighters were hung up for community members to claim / PFD Facebook

The idea was to have an event the community could participate in along with the fire fighting service and remember the 343 FDNY firefighters members who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Pegram Fire Chief, Brent Stuart got the event started with opening comments and explained the memorial walk – there were 343 firefighters’ names and pictures enclosed in a badge that each walker was to take and walk the walking path around Pegram Park.

At the end of the lap, the walker would then read the name of the firefighter and which unit they were with. Participants were encouraged to keep their badge and learn more about the life of the firefighter.

Danny Stuart followed Brent’s comments up with an opening prayer and the walking began at about 5:15 p.m. with the fire fighters from PFD leading the way in full gear.

There were between 100 and 150 members of the community there to walk.

At approximately 6 p.m., the walkers were asked to pause for a brief memorial ceremony with words from the event organizer, Davidson, followed by a prayer from Fire Marshal Fred Page.

When the prayer was completed, a moment of silence was reserved and ended with Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes by Nashville Firefighter Jason Tant.

The PFD walked alongside community members to honor those firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001 / PFD Facebook

By 6:30 p.m., only an hour and a half later, all of the 343 FDNY firefighters had been walked for and had their names read aloud.

Ronnie Nash, a resident of Kinston Springs, participated in the event because he felt he “owed to the first responders that saved his life.”

This 9/11 Memorial Event was the first for PFD and they hope it is the first of many events in which the firefighting service and the community can participate together.

“What an unbelievable turnout for the first Annual Pegram 9/11 Tribute,” PFD wrote on Facebook. “After tonight’s great turnout and great participation in walking the laps for the fallen FDNY 343, there’s no doubt we’re doing this annually moving forward.”