'The American spirit cannot be defeated'

<p class="p1">EDITOR'S NOTE: See more 9/11 remembrance coverage inside the Sept. 16 print edition of the Herald Tribune.

<p class="p1">As the nation observed the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks last Sunday, remembrance ceremonies were held in Randolph County and around the region.

<p class="p1">In Chester, First Baptist Church held a patriotic service, led by Senior Pastor Mike Fogerson, that honored Randolph County first responders.

<p class="p1">"It's a benchmark date for people in my generation and who are old enough to remember it," Fogerson said. "We wanted to honor our first responders and I think it's a great way to honor those who sacrificed so much on 9/11.

<p class="p1">"We honor their memory by appreciating the ones we have now."

<p class="p1">Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert, a 25-year veteran at the CFD, was among those in attendance at the service.

<p class="p1">"We don't do it for the recognition and it's nice to have people come out and shake your hand and say 'thank you' in person," he said.

<p class="p1">Bert said he was working at his Chester shop, Bert's Auto Service, the morning of the attacks.

<p class="p1">"We listened to it on the radio," he said. "We didn't have a TV, but watched it on TV when we went home for lunch."

<p class="p1">Fifteen years later, Bert was asked if he believes the nation is as united as it was the morning after the World Trade Center towers fell.

<p class="p1">"I hear stories from other departments from larger cities," he said. "They're not as well-liked as we are in small towns. Kids give obscene gestures as (firefighters) go down the road.

<p class="p1">"Here, I think it's been the same. But other departments in bigger cities, it's an issue with people who don't respect police or firemen."

<p class="p1">Bert noted that disrespect could ultimately affect lives.

<p class="p1">"Who will help them when they need help?" he asked.

<p class="p1">Across town, the Murphysboro Clarkes paid tribute to the fallen prior to their vintage baseball doubleheader with the Springfield Long Nine at the Cohen Complex.

<p class="p1">"The American spirit cannot be defeated," said Murphysboro captain "Black Bart" Hagston, prior to asking for a moment of silence to honor the victims.

<p class="p1">To the west, several Red Bud firefighters participated in the fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Clayton Fire Department in Clayton, Mo.

<p class="p1">More than 300 men and women, many in full gear, climbed the equivalent of 110 stories of the WTC in paying tribute to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on that day.

<p class="p1">The Red Bud Fire Department raised more than $9,500 through the event - the most raised by a team - and firefighter Ryan Glasscock raised the most individually with more than $4,000.

<p class="p1">Proceeds will be donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.

<p class="p1">"You go up 22 flights of stairs and take an elevator down and repeat the process five times," said Red Bud firefighter Tyler Hess, who was in fifth grade at the time of the attacks. "One-hundred-ten stories is not that easy in full gear. You get to meet so many people from different departments coming together and it's very humbling."

<p class="p1">Hess said participants are given the name and picture of a firefighter who died.

<p class="p1">"That's who you climb for," he said. "You ring a bell and say the name of the firefighter you climbed for."

<p class="p1">In Belleville, first responders - including more than 370 Metro-East firefighters - marched to the new 9/11 memorial at Belleville Fire Department Engine House No. 4.

<p class="p1">Steeleville-based United Ironworkers played a part in the creation of the memorial, as the company donated the labor and equipment to place a 7,100-pound steel column onto the memorial's support frame.

<p class="p1">The column - which was delivered to Belleville in 2012 - was part of the rubble of the WTC and had been displayed in several parades as part of the fundraising effort toward its installation.

<p class="p1">"My guys were welding in the rain and getting ready for Sunday and I was really, really proud of our team," said Rasnick, whose birthday is September 11. "They hung in out there and it was a great honor to see our guys do that.

<p class="p1">"Everyone knows what that (memorial) means."

<p class="p1">According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, more than 1,200 pieces of the towers' wreckage were sent to cities nationwide.

<p class="p1">"There's five different human DNA on the beam and they said it would take 250 years for it to deteriorate," Rasnick said. "I went up (Sunday) for the ceremony and for every firefighter, they had different firefighters there."

<p class="p1">Organizers hope to have the memorial - which will also honor United Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania - complete by next year's anniversary.

<p class="p1">"I was working at the post office and I was en route from Steeleville to Percy when it came over the radio," said Steeleville Mayor Bob Sutton. "We then heard the attack on the second tower slightly thereafter.

<p class="p1">"I couldn't believe what I was hearing over the radio. It was stunning to say the least."

<p class="p3">Also Sunday, Steeleville's fire and police departments were presented a framed American flag during the Steeleville Cruise and Barbeque as part of a 9/11 remembrance.

<p class="p1">"I think we are extremly lucky to have the volunteer fire department we have in Steeleville and all the equipment that's been provided by the city," Sutton said. "We've got two of the most up-to-date departments around.

<p class="p1">"You can't say enough good things about them."

<p class="p1">Steeleville Fire Chief Carlos Barbour spoke on the importance of firefighters as role models in the community.

<p class="p1">"We're still a very patriotic community, so I think our younger firemen still know the importance of firefighters as role models in the community," he said. "As far as the department goes, we're very honored to receive this flag and can't wait to display it in our new facilities."