The City of Pullman commemorated 23 years since the September 11 attacks with a procession of fire trucks and ambulances driving throughout Pullman. The ceremony also shed appreciation to first responders in the community with speeches.

The procession ended at City Hall with a presentation of colors from Pullman fire and police department with a tolling of the bells, a signal of honor and respect.

There were also a series of speeches by community figures including Francis Benjamin, Mayor of Pullman; Mike Heston, Fire Chief and CJ Carrier, Police Chaplin.

“I had the chance to visit New York and tour the ground zero and experience it firsthand the devastation that happened as a part of that attack that happened there, in New York and not only the devastation impact that it had on our community, our country, but also on individual lives and also to see the dedication and service of our first responders that responded to the community in need,”  Benjamin said. “I see as I look out today that same willingness and dedication within our first responders for our community.”

Benjamin also described part of why he feels appreciative of the police officers and firefighters in Pullman.

“We appreciate the dedication [and] sacrifices that our first responders give. If there’s a person in need, they move into that need in order to support or in order to help and it’s something that as a community, we very much appreciate and want to recognize them for it,” Benjamin said.