Burbank police officers and firefighters lined up shoulder to shoulder on the ramp outside the Police and Fire Headquarters on September 11, for a commemoration of service, sacrifice and remembrance on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that changed the nation.
The Burbank first responders marched out of the headquarters to join a community gathered in honor of the victims, survivors and emergency personnel who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Among those remembered were the 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Beginning at 6:30 a.m., the commemoration brought together community members, Mayor Tamala Takahashi, City Council members Konstantine Anthony, Chris Rizzotti and Nikki Perez, and City Manager Justin Hess. Twenty-five years after the tragedy, the gathering offered Burbank a moment to reflect on the lives lost and the commitment to others that continues within our own public safety departments.
“We rely on one another and protect one another, and together we protect our community. That same commitment exists here in Burbank, every day our police officers and firefighters work side by side, prepare to respond when our community needs us most,” said Burbank Police Chief Rafael Quintero at the podium during the ceremony.
“Burbank really is a special place where neighbors look out for one another, and public safety is a shared responsibility. September 11 reminds us why that matters. It reminds us that behind every badge and every uniform is a person who has committed themselves to service above self, and behind every first responder is a family who understands the risks that come with that commitment.”
His words connected the national day of remembrance to the people standing before the headquarters: first responders whose responsibilities extend beyond their uniforms and to the families who share in the weight of that service.
At 6:59 a.m., the ringing of the bell by Verdugo Dispatch marked the time, in Pacific time, when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. Burbank Fire Chief Danny Alvarez explained the significance of the fire service traditions used to honor the fallen.
“The ring of the bell and the firefighter’s prayer are two traditions of the fire service which reflect respect and honor to those who gave their lives to their duty,” Alvarez shared. “We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and respect on those who have given so much and who have served so well.”
The special signal of three bell rings represents the completion of firefighters’ duties and their return to quarters. In remembrance of those who died in service to others, that final alarm carries a deeper meaning: their tasks are completed, their duties well done, and they are going home.
Outside Burbank’s Police and Fire Headquarters, the officers and firefighters standing shoulder to shoulder gave a visible expression to Quintero’s words. Now 25 years after September 11, our city continues to remember those who answered their last call on that day, and give thanks to the men and women who keep Burbank safe today and every day forward.
