| Members of the Dumfries-Triangle Vol. Fire Dept. were present as more than 400 motorcyclists were among a convoy of trucks that made their way to Quantico from New York City on Oct. 5th. Crossed ladders from Truck 503 and Truck 531 supported the U.S. flag and Marine Corps colors forming an arch as the convoy escorting the final two steel beams to be dedicated to 17 Marines who were also fallen firefighters at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. DTVFD was honored later in the evening to house and guard FDNY Engine 343 and in true form cleaned and detailed the prestigious apparatus for the events to come.
On Sunday a crowd formed early and waited at the National Museum of the Marine Corps as part of a tribute to the men who were among the 343 firefighters killed on the day of the worst terrorist attack in American history. As the family members of the fallen arrived on FDNY Engine 343, an honor guard consisting of department members from all over the region rendered honors. After the family passed, the honor guard marched to the area of the ceremony and accompanied the nearly 600 in attendance.
After a ceremonious military tribute next to the museum, the crowd along with the FDNY procession walked a quarter of a mile to the unveiling of the two steel beams recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center that were used in a monument dedicated to the fallen Marines.
One of the beams bore the emblem of the New York City Fire Department, while the other featured the familiar eagle, globe and anchor of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The monuments can be found in the Semper Fidelis Park just outside the museum, which was also the dedication ceremony for family, friends and Marines, with the names of each of the fallen Marines there for all to see. |
