09/11/2026
We Remember September 11
There are certain moments in our history that we will never forget. September 11, 2001, is one of them.
Twenty-five years later, (so hard to believe, it seems like only yesterday) the images and emotions of that day remain with us. Nearly 3,000 people went to work, boarded airplanes, traveled, and began what they thought would be an ordinary Tuesday. By the end of the day, their lives were gone, and the lives of countless families were changed forever.
Having spent much of my career in law enforcement, September 11 carries a particularly deep meaning for me. I have worked alongside police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, and other first responders. I know the commitment that comes with putting on a uniform and answering a call when others need help.
On that morning, first responders did what they had been trained to do. They went toward danger.
Firefighters climbed the stairs of the World Trade Center as others were coming down. Police officers entered buildings and worked to evacuate people. Paramedics and emergency personnel established triage and cared for the injured. Dispatchers worked to get help where it was needed. And ordinary citizens showed extraordinary courage in helping one another.
Many of those heroes never came home. Today, we remember them. We remember those heroes.
We also MUST remember the victims and the families who continue to live with their absence. We remember the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. And we remember the thousands of military members, police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel, and others who answered the call in the years that followed.
We should also recognize the men and women in our own community who continue that tradition of service every single day.
In Pekin, our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, nurses, doctors, public works employees, and other city employees routinely respond when people are having some of the worst days of their lives. They don't always know what they will encounter when they answer the phone, hear the radio, or respond to an emergency.
But they go.
That willingness to serve, to put others before ourselves, is something worth honoring.
September 11 reminds us that our country can be vulnerable, but it also reminds us of the extraordinary courage and compassion of the American people. What stood out to me the most during that time was how we all united. There were no party lines. There was no divide. We were all simply Americans and we lifted each other up.
So today, let us pause. Remember those we lost. Honor those who served. Thank the first responders who continue to serve. And most importantly, never forget.
We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
John Dossey
City Manager, City of Pekin
