On September 11, 2001, nearly three dozen young recruits were just beginning their careers with Hall County Fire Services. Little did they know, their first day in training would be a day that would be forever etched in the history of firefighting.
On that Tuesday morning, about half of the class was being fitted for their uniforms at Station 7, while the other half was at the training center just beginning to learn the basics of firefighting. Slowly (remember, there was no social media in 2001) the 35 recruits began to hear the news of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Sgt. Adam Lane, who had turned 19 just two weeks before he started his fire services training, said he remembers he and his fellow recruits were stunned.
"I had a mixture of feelings, really. Shock, sadness, what did I get myself into?...That's like the ultimate emergency right there. I was like, wow - that could have been me or could be me one day," Lane said.
On the approach of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Lane and six other members of the recruit class sat down with AccessWDUN to reflect on how that infamous day impacted them then - and now.
"Lt. [Rhodney] Myers, I remember, he stood in front of the whole class and told us 'today has changed the fire service forever,'" said FAO David Truelove. "[He said] it'll never be the same. Of course, we didn't know what 'the same' was."
In the days to come, the world would find out 343 New York City firefighters died as they entered the burning towers of the World Trade Center, trying to rescue as many people as possible.
At that time, Hall County Fire Services was comprised of 297 employees, from firefighters to support staff to administration. The young firefighters - now dubbed the 9/11 Class - were told what happened in New York City would have wiped out their entire department.
The sobering words of Lt. Myers and the tragic deaths of hundreds of FDNY firefighters didn't prompt anyone in the class to leave, though.
"That never crossed our minds," said Lt. Shane Peck. "I mean, it was 'what can we do to help?' Some of the more senior guys that we talked to were already planning trips to go up there to help."
In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans began to look at all firefighters as heroes. Lt. Steve Durling said he was uncomfortable with the label, knowing the bar had been set so high by those New York city firefighters.
"We'd go to Arby's and we'd hear 'oh you guys are heroes.' Well, no we weren't. We were a bunch of brand new kids who didn't know what we were doing. I think we've spent our entire careers trying to live up to what we thought they were expecting us to be," Durling said.
FAO B.J. Meaders said even to this day, firefighters can be placed on a pedestal. He remembered one incident where he and a fellow emergency worker pulled a man from the wreckage of a serious car crash at the intersection of Ga. 52 and Ga. 365. Initially, they didn't believe the man would survive, but he did, and he came to the fire station to find out who saved his life. Meaders said he still sees the man, who never fails to show his appreciation, whether it's a hug around the neck or paying for a meal.
"We were just doing our job," Meaders said.
Peck said he's received the same kind of appreciation from business owners who could have lost their livelihoods had it not been for the quick action of firefighters. He, like Meaders, said it's gratifying to be appreciated, but again, it's all part of the job.
FAO Andrew Nix said he thinks part of the reason people appreciate firefighters - whether they serve in New York City or Hall County, Georgia - is that they all have a common mission.
"We, as firemen, are expected to bring calm into chaos," Nix said.
9/11 was a day of great chaos, to be sure. But each of the firefighters gathered around the table at the Emergency Services Center conference room said there are lessons to be learned from that day.
"Remember the sacrifices that happened that day," Nix said.
Lt. Ryan Beasley agreed.
"The sacrifices that the guys made and the families that they left behind. Really, that's the most important thing for me."
Durling said he knows there are plenty of young people who see 9/11 as a page in history, but he'd like them learn more about what happened.
"Watch the shows, talk to people, learn a little bit more about it, and if it makes you sad - good. Those who don't learn from their history are doomed to repeat it," Durling said.
"The nation as a whole needs to remember that this can happen and it's not just something that you see on Fox News or CNN," Meaders said. "It has happened here and at some point, unfortunately, it's going to happen again. We need to stop bickering over minor stuff and pull together."
Of the 35 recruits who went to work for Hall County Fire Services the morning of 9/11/2001, 32 graduated. Many have gone to other fire departments, some have changed professions. For those who are still part of HCFS, they are assigned to stations all across the county, and don't see each other often. Still, they have the bond of being part of the 9/11 Class.
