May we always remember

SEELEY LAKE – Friday morning, Sept. 11 Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department personnel stood in front of the Seeley Lake Post Office to commemorate those who lost their lives and served during the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked multiple airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania resulting in the deaths of 2,977 people. Most of the deaths were civilians but among the casualties were 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel.

The Seeley Lake Department stood for 102 minutes, the amount of time it took for the first of the two Twin Towers to fall. This was the 12th year the Department has done the stand-in on Highway 83.

Seeley Lake Fire Department Cadet Beth Homen, 17, wasn't even born when the terrorists hit the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001. Yet she stood for 102 minutes with the volunteers doing her part to help others remember.

"I see it as remembering, seeing and respecting all of the men and women that went into the Trade Center before it went down to try and save as many people as they could," said Homen. "Maybe they knew they wouldn't come out, maybe they didn't. They just knew there were people in there that they needed to get out. As long as we are allowed to, we need to respect that, we need to applaud them and we need to remember them."

Homen's father John joined the Seeley Lake Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in 2013. Homen joined as a cadet as soon as she turned 16, the earliest that one can join.

"I wanted to be like my dad and be with him when he was out on scene," said Homen. "I wanted to fight fire with him and watch his back."

Homen explained the job of a cadet is "run, fetch, carry." She trains with the firefighters and looks forward to becoming a full member when she turns 18.

Homen wanted to join her father in the past when he participated in the 9-11 tribute in front of the Post Office. Last year was the first year she could participate but school prevented her from participating since it was on a Wednesday.

"In my freshman and sophomore year, none of the teachers or students even brought up 9-11," said Homen. "Why don't we honor 9-11? We say the Pledge of Allegiance, we talk about Memorial Day, we talk about Veterans Day, we don't talk about 9-11."

Homen said she watched the movies "World Trade Center" and "United 83" with her father as a young teenager.

"It broke my heart because this was real. I'm just watching it and I can't do anything about it," said Homen.

Homen continued to research the events and feels the death toll and those who worked to save lives need to be remembered.

"If people don't take the time to remember, we're going to forget," said Homen. "It definitely helps that I'm doing something about it now."

This year, due to being in study hall during the time of the memorial, Homen was able to participate. She is one of a handful of cadets who have participated with the department over the last 12 years that they have held the memorial.

Homen said 102 minutes was a very short amount of time for emergency responders to get people to safety. While her body said that was enough, "My soul said that wasn't enough. What about the firefighters who lived, who kept going? I'm not saying we should change [the tribute]. I just can't help but wonder if we have done enough."

Homen was pleasantly surprised from the community response to the tribute. She appreciated The Filling Station changing their sign to "9-11 We Remember."

"I applaud the community of Seeley Lake for how many beeps, waves, pictures and pull overs there were," said Homen who added the group really appreciated the anonymous man who dropped off a box of donuts for the crew. "I was honestly expecting the same attitude in the community as there was from the school. These people went out of their way and showed respect."

Homen said volunteering shows that people are willing to put their lives on hold to help another person, the town and area. A person is willing to risk their life to go and do what they are called to do.

"I'm standing there showing them that young people can do it. They can understand and they can care," said Homen. "I don't know anything different, but I can see and hear what is different [because of Sept. 11, 2001] from my elders."