Mountain Home will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks with a remembrance ceremony on Monday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m. The event, organized to honor the lives lost and the first responders who served that day, will take place at Veterans Plaza.
The ceremony will include remarks from several speakers, including retired FDNY Rescue 1 Captain John Cirillo, who was on duty in New York City on 9/11. Capt. Cirillo, who survived the collapse of one of the Twin Towers, will provide a firsthand account of the tragic events and reflect on their enduring impact. According to Mountain Home firefighter Tommy Feliccia, one of the organizers, Cirillo’s perspective is invaluable for helping younger generations understand the significance of that day.
Jim Brown, a former member of the Arkansas State Police who is also assisting with the event, emphasized how meaningful it is to help organize this year’s ceremony. He noted that in addition to honoring the fallen, the event will recognize those first responders who have continued to face health challenges linked to their exposure at Ground Zero.
Following the public ceremony, local first responders—firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical service providers, and dispatchers—will gather at the Mountain Home Aquatic Center for a meal and fellowship aimed at fostering relationships among area emergency personnel.
Capt. Cirillo will remain in the region on Sept. 8 to teach a free, eight-hour training course at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. The class, open to firefighters from Arkansas and Missouri, will focus on advanced firefighting techniques and lessons drawn from Cirillo’s extensive career.
The Sept. 7 remembrance ceremony is open to the public, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and reflect on a day that remains indelibly etched in American memory.