Mountain Home will observe the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a remembrance ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m. at Veterans Plaza. Organized to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost and the countless first responders who were affected, the ceremony will feature guest speakers, including a retired New York firefighter who experienced the attacks firsthand.
John Cirillo, a retired captain of FDNY Rescue Company 1 and a survivor of a tower collapse on 9/11, will serve as the event’s special guest speaker. Cirillo’s firsthand account of the tragedy is intended to provide a personal connection to the day’s events and their lasting repercussions. Mountain Home firefighter Tommy Feliccia, who is helping organize the event, emphasized the importance of educating younger generations about the attacks as time passes.
Jim Brown, a former Arkansas State Police officer involved in organizing the event, said the committee is also focused on recognizing first responders who continue to face health challenges from their service at Ground Zero. The program underscores the enduring sacrifices made by emergency personnel during and after that fateful day.
Following the ceremony, local firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and dispatchers will gather at the Mountain Home Aquatic Center for a private meal and fellowship. The get-together is designed to foster relationships among first responders across the region.
On Sept. 8, Cirillo will conduct a free, eight-hour training session for firefighters at Arkansas State University–Mountain Home. The class, which is open to participants from Arkansas and Missouri, will provide in-depth instruction on firefighting techniques and tactics drawn from Cirillo’s years of experience with New York City’s Fire Department.
The Sept. 7 ceremony is open to the public, offering the community an opportunity to reflect on a day that profoundly shaped the nation. Residents are invited to join in honoring the memory of those lost and celebrating the resilience of first responders who risk their lives for public safety.