9/11: When Ordinary People Became Heroes

How to honor local service members, first responders and community groups who 'Hear the Alarm'

September 11 has become more than a day of memories. It is also a National Day of Service and Remembrance - a day to turn grief into good. Twenty-five years after the attacks of 9/11, 2001, the images remain unforgettable. But that day is also when ordinary people stepped forward in extraordinary ways. 

First responders ran toward danger. Military and medical personnel answered the call. Volunteers cared for strangers. Communities came together to help wherever help was needed. 

The 9/11 Day organization was founded in 2002 with a goal of transforming the anniversary into an annual day of unity, service and good deeds. The grassroots effort received bipartisan support and in 2009, September 11 was officially established as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

Now, 25 years after the attacks, the 2026 theme is “Let’s Unite for Good,” with a goal of inspiring one million good deeds between now and September 11. 

For communities across Southeast Indiana, that message feels especially meaningful. We don't have to look far to find people who live out that spirit every day. They hear the alarm and go. 

Consider the firefighters and emergency responders throughout our region. 

Lawrenceburg firefighters trained as Swiftwater Technicians so they can respond when emergencies happen on the Ohio River or during flooding. Their calls have included boat fires, water rescues and people in crisis. 

In West Harrison first responders recently answered the call for a dozen water rescues. And they continue to help those affected by the flooding of the Whitewater River.  

The Rising Sun Volunteer Fire Department and Ohio County EMS are a vital link between residents and the emergency medical system, responding when someone needs help - often on what may be the worst day of that person's life. 

Switzerland County firefighters have also experienced the heartbreaking side of being a first responder. In 2020, a house fire claimed the lives of six siblings. The emotional toll was enormous, but they still had a job to do - protect others and take care of the community. 

In another rescue, East Enterprise firefighters worked alongside neighboring departments and local farmers to save a man who had fallen into a grain silo. They willingly put themselves in danger to bring him to safety.  

These aren't isolated moments. They are part of what local firefighters, police officers, EMTs, dispatchers and other emergency personnel do every day. They hear the alarm - and they go. 

There is also the toll of remembering those who never came home. 

The Volunteer Fire and Rescue departments of Ripley County also know that answering the call can come with the ultimate sacrifice. 

The county's 10 volunteer fire and rescue departments are contributing from their own tight budgets toward a firefighter memorial on Versailles Square. The memorial will honor four local firefighters who died in the line of duty: 

Clarence Roell, Batesville firefighter, died November 11, 1960. 

Robert Kermeen, Friendship firefighter, died December 23, 1982. 

Ira Turner, Osgood firefighter, died June 14, 1988. 

Ralph Meyer, Napoleon firefighter, died December 4, 2024. 

They represent families, departments and communities forever changed by the loss of someone who lived to help others. The memorial is one way of saying that their service will not be forgotten. 

Service doesn't have to be dramatic. Most of us will never run into a burning building or respond to a water rescue. But that doesn't mean we can't serve. 

Honoring the spirit of September 11 is as simple as helping someone complete a job application, delivering a meal to a homebound neighbor, or volunteering at a food pantry. 

AmeriCorps, a partner of the Day of Service, encourages people to find meaningful ways to serve, including volunteering with local parks, helping neighbors with yard work, learning how to assist after a disaster, supporting Meals on Wheels or organizing a blood drive. 

The American Heart Association, a sponsor, suggests a simple way to show appreciation: deliver snacks or meals to first responders, emergency personnel, health care workers or other community heroes, along with a note expressing gratitude. 

And service doesn't always mean giving money, though creating fundraisers are always appreciated. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can give is our time. 

September 11 can also be an opportunity to teach children that history isn't only about looking backward. They can’t remember 9/11 but they can learn what kind of community they want to build going forward. 

Those lessons can begin at home - with a child helping a neighbor, collecting food for a pantry, writing thank-you notes to first responders or participating in a community cleanup. Small acts can become lasting habits. 

9/11 Day.org offers educators lesson plans and free resources at https://911day.org/education designed to help students understand compassion, unity and service. For the 25th anniversary, the organization is giving teachers the chance to win a trip for two to see the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in NY. Teachers can also nominate a special senior who leads their own service project with college scholarship opportunities up to $5,000.  

There is also an opportunity to honor military members, veterans, and their families that is close to home. 

Carry The Load.org is encouraging volunteers to gather at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, on September 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers will help clean veterans' headstones and beautify the cemetery grounds. Registration is free but required. Register today at www.CarryTheLoad.org   

September 11 reminds us that communities are strongest when people are willing to step forward for one another. 

Our local heroes don't wait for someone else to answer the alarm. We can honor them by doing the same - not necessarily by running toward danger, but by looking around our own communities and asking a simple question: Who needs a hand?