Asheville firefighters, police honor 9/11 first responders, victims of Twin Towers attack

Ryley Ober, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read
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Asheville firefighters bow their heads during a prayer Sept. 11, 2023 at the Asheville Fire Department while honoring the first responders and others killed in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
Asheville firefighters bow their heads during a prayer Sept. 11, 2023 at the Asheville Fire Department while honoring the first responders and others killed in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

ASHEVILLE — Community members, city leaders and more than 40 active and retired uniformed officers gathered on a foggy Sept. 11 morning to pay tribute to the first responders who sacrificed their lives the day the World Trade Center was attacked 22 years ago.

Among the crowd was Joe Krebbs, a 22-year New York City firefighter and Asheville resident for 25 years. Krebbs was in Asheville the day the Twin Towers fell, but was in New York the day after, helping search for survivors in the massive pile of rubble. Krebbs then became one of many retired Fire Department of New York firefighters trained in basic counseling and placed in New York firehouses as peer counselors to help first responders grapple with trauma resulting from the attack.

“The numbers are incredible, 341 guys who worked on the pile have passed from 9/11-related cancers and for us, the guys in New York City, it’s not the numbers — we see the faces,” Krebbs told the Citizen Times while fighting back tears.

He said he’s “really thankful” for the remembrance ceremony, and that “they do a great job every year.”

Joe Krebbs, a former New York City firefighter of 22 years, listens during a prayer at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023. Krebbs returned to New York from Asheville the day after the attacks to aid in recovery and peer counseling. “I’m really thankful they do this,” said Krebbs.
Joe Krebbs, a former New York City firefighter of 22 years, listens during a prayer at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023. Krebbs returned to New York from Asheville the day after the attacks to aid in recovery and peer counseling. “I’m really thankful they do this,” said Krebbs.

To start the ceremony, three members of the Asheville Fire Department and Asheville Police Department Honor Guard presented the nation’s colors and raised the American flag to half-staff. Marcus Kirkman, equity and inclusion training consultant for Asheville, then performed the national anthem from the podium at the City Municipal Building, 100 Court Plaza.

After Chaplain Larry Siefferman led a heart-felt opening prayer, Interim Fire Chief Chris Budzinski addressed the crowd and led a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., in recognition of the moment the first plane struck the North Tower.

“This was the single largest loss of police officers and firefighters from any event in the history of the United States,” Budzinski said, recounting the 2,339 innocent lives lost, as well as the 23 NYC police officers, 37 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officers and 343 FDNY firefighters killed in the line of duty.

“During and after this tragedy, we came together as a nation,” Budzinski continued. “We saw that the destruction brought on by so few was greatly surpassed by the bravery, courage, love and heroism displayed by so many. … Today we remember the victims and their families and keep our pledge to never forget their sacrifices.”

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The public remembrance ceremony also featured remarks from City Manager Debra Campbell and Asheville Police Captain Joe Silberman.

“In spite of the horrific events of that day, we have turned that tragedy into a proud moment of unity, healing, honor and restoration,” Campbell said. “These remembrance celebrations are our way of lifting and giving honor to the collective bravery of the men and women across this nation and how they showed up that day.”

Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell speaks at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.
Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell speaks at a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.

Campbell acknowledged the other elected officials who attended the ceremony, including Mayor Esther Manheimer, Vice Mayor Sandra Kilgore, Councilmember Antanette Mosley and Councilmember Maggie Ullman.

“I will close by extending special thank you to our public safety community here in Asheville, but especially to the city of Asheville firefighters and police officers,” Campbell concluded. “We are so grateful to each of you and to your families for the sacrifices you all make every day to protect and serve.”

Asheville Police Captain Joe Silberman speaks during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.
Asheville Police Captain Joe Silberman speaks during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.

Silberman said as a native New Yorker who grew up across the bay from the towers, “seeing first responders running toward the buildings as they fell and later still in the rubble, raising our flag and continuing to rescue ― it was a call to service.”

“In our grief and anger, we said ‘never forget,’” Silberman said. “Today is set aside to reflect upon why we shouldn’t. … We built a memorial to our strength. No current generation of Americans has known a more unifying call to action.”

People bow their heads during a prayer at the conclusion of a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.
People bow their heads during a prayer at the conclusion of a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, September 11, 2023.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. News tips? Email Ryley at rober@gannett.com. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville firefighters, police honor first responders, victims of 9/11