HANCOCK COUNTY — Firefighter Tony Bratcher was only 16 and had just signed up to be an explorer on the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department to learn more about being a first-responder when the terror attacks occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
“It’s the single most important event that has happened in my career,” Bratcher said. “Seeing the bravery on display that day pushed me to become a full-time firefighter, and I’ll bet the majority of cops and firefighters feel the same way.”
Bratcher feels it’s important to pause and remember and thank those brave men and women who ran into the towers of the World Trade Center trying to save others when the buildings collapsed one after the other. Of the 2,977 victims killed in the attacks, 412 were emergency workers in New York City who responded to the World Trade Center.
Bratcher, who represents the Hancock County Professional Firefighters Local 4787, is working with the Hancock County Fraternal Order of Police 140 in planning a special remembrance for the community to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the FOP lodge, 400 E. Davis Road.
“It’s the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and we feel it’s important to remember and reflect, and there is no better way to do that then to team up with the cops because we’re one big family,” Bratcher said.
The firefighters union and the FOP are paying for the picnic-style event for all county first-responders, and the community is welcome. There will be food trucks, games, live music and bounce houses for kids, and commemorative shirts will be sold, with all the proceeds going to a first-responder charity.
“We will not profit off of this event,” Bratcher said. “We just want to give back.”
Organizers will kick off the event with a special ceremony at 6 p.m. It will include a presentation of colors by a joint group of firefighter/police Honor Guard members. Bag pipes will be played, followed by some remarks by Bratcher. They’ll then host a moment of silence for all to reflect and give thanks for those first-responders who lost their lives that day.
“I have a guy on Sugar Creek’s department who wasn’t even born when 9/11 happened,” Bratcher said. “It’s important to teach them of the sacrifices made that day, and the way to do that is to have ceremonies like this where we can pause and reflect.”
Bratcher said all county first-responders have been invited to attend.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re a part of the firefighters union or not, we want every first-responder in the county to come out, along with the community,” Bratcher said.
Anyone with any questions should reach out to Bratcher at the fire station via (317) 861-5721.
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Community 9/11 Memorial and Remembrance Event:
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11
Where: Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 400 E. Davis Road
Who: Put on by the Hancock County Professional Firefighters Local 4787 and the Hancock County Fraternal Order of Police 140.
For: All firefighters, police and community members are welcome to attend picnic-style remembrance, which will include a special service.
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