Firefighters, public to honor 9/11 victims today

The Aspen Volunteer Fire Department is holding a 9/11 memorial service at their headquarters on Hopkins Ave. this morning at 7:45 a.m. The public is invited to attend and participate. Deputy Chief Rick Balentine said a service was held at the station at the one-year mark, and more low-key services in the years following.

“Being the fifth year anniversary, we decided to put it out there. If you miss people who died, come by and share it with us,” Balentine said. “Three hundred forty-three firefighters died in the twin towers,” he added.

In all, nearly 3,000 people died five years ago today as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and At 8:05 a.m., the time the first tower collapsed, bells will be rung at the fire station, a tradition to mark the passing of a fireman in the line of duty. The north tower collapsed at 8:28 a.m., so bells will also be rung then, along with the flag being lowered to half mast.

Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis will be on-hand to reflect on the anniversary from a law enforcement perspective. And fire department chaplain Roy Holloway will deliver a prayer in remembrance. The city of Aspen has no formal plans to publicly commemorate the attack, nor do the public schools.

At the recent request of Councilwoman Rachel Richards, the Aspen City Council will commence, beginning today, all of its Monday meetings with a moment of silence as a reminder that the nation is at war.