| PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — On Friday, September 11, members of the Putnam Valley Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Putnam Valley Volunteer Fire Department gathered at the base of Tinker Hill to carry out a solemn tradition ahead of the town’s annual evening memorial service.
Dressed in full operational gear—with several carrying equipment and tools—volunteers from both agencies ascended the steepest road in Putnam Valley in unified solidarity. The physically demanding trek served as a living tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made 25 years ago on September 11, 2001, as well as the brothers and sisters lost to 9/11-related illnesses in the decades since.
The 2001 attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Among those lost in the immediate aftermath were 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, and 8 Emergency Medical Services personnel who answered the call of duty without hesitation. The attacks caused the deaths of 441 first responders, the greatest loss of emergency responders on a single day in American history.
Ascending Tinker Hill in gear—which adds upwards of 45 to 70 pounds of weight—is a physical reflection of the heavy burden carried by first responders on that tragic morning and every day following.
The joint effort underscored the deep bond between Putnam Valley’s emergency services. Side by side, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters tackled the steep incline, standing shoulder to shoulder to demonstrate that a quarter-century later, the promise to "Never Forget" remains as active and vital as ever.
Following the climb, members joined local residents, community leaders, and fellow first responders at the official Putnam Valley 9/11 Memorial Ceremony to pay respect to the victims, survivors, and families impacted by the tragedy. |
