‘We’ll take it from here’

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake remembered the fallen heroes of 9/11 in ceremonies downtown and at the Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center Thursday morning. 

“We honor the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Moses Lake Fire Department Battalion Chief Dave Holle at the memorial at Civic Center Park next to the Moses Lake Library. “On that day nearly 3,000 people died, including 343 (Fire Department of New York) firefighters, 23 New York Police Officers and 37 Port Authority Police Officers. Their sacrifice reminds us of the true meaning of duty, service and courage. Today we come together as firefighters, law enforcement officers and community members to remember them (and) to honor their families.” 

Most of the attendees at the Civic Center Park ceremony were first responders, although a few civilian community members came out as well. After Holle’s words, MLFD Capt. Shrade Rouse rang the Four Fives, the 20 peals of a bell that is the traditional requiem for a fallen firefighter. 

“The sounding of the bell … represents the end of duty and serves as a final tribute to our brothers and sisters who have answered their last alarm and their final call,” Holle said. “On this day we honor both firefighters and law enforcement officers.” 

CBTECH honored the fallen twice, in ceremonies at 8:15 and 11:35 a.m. In between, fire services instructor and retired Seattle Fire Department Capt. Cris Tupen said, he was planning to show the students a documentary about the attacks to the students, none of whom were born at the time of the attack. 

The students might not have memories of that day, but Tupen certainly does, he said.  

“We who were around long enough know exactly what we were doing, where we were,” Tupen said. “We can smell, taste, feel everything we were doing from that day. It seems like yesterday.” 

Tupen was a firefighter at SFD when the word came that the Twin Towers had been hit, he said. A detail was organized to send to New York to help with the recovery efforts. 

“Ultimately, I did not go,” Tupen said. “We sent a team. It took about a week to get our resources over there. And I have dear friends from the Seattle Fire Department who spent two weeks digging through that rubble.” 

Outside the school, students in the Fire Services and Law Enforcement programs assembled in uniform as their classmates and teachers looked on. Three students raised the flag in front of the school, then lowered it to half-staff. Then law enforcement instructor and retired MLPD Chief Dave Ruffin told the story of the 9/11 attacks to the student body and explained the meaning behind the remembrance before handing the microphone over to Tupen.  

Tupen told the students about the tradition of the Four Fives and fire services student Jeremiah Vargas rang the bell. 

“Let this symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their duty, those who have given their lives to the good of their fellow man, their tasks completed, their duties well done,” Tupen said. “To our comrades who answered their last alarm, rest easy, brothers and sisters. We'll take it from here.” 

    Moses Lake Fire Department Capt. Shrade Rouse, right, prepares to ring the Four Fives as Moses Lake Police Sgt. Aaron Hintz, left, salutes and MLFD Battalion Chief Dave Holle explains the significance of the bell at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Moses Lake Civic Center Park Thursday.
  

    Moses Lake first responders and community members observe a moment of silence in memory of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
  

    Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center Fire Services student Jeremiah Vargas, right, solemnly rings the Four Fives as law Enforcement instructor Dave Ruffin looks on.
  

    CBTECH Fire Services students listen to the story of the 9/11 attacks at the school’s memorial ceremony Monday.