A cowardly act of violence, of which no one could foresee
Took the lives of men, women, and children away from you and me.
The early morning hours of September 11th, 2001,
Would be a day we’ll not forget, as terrorism struck.
Hijackers crashed planes into buildings, something we don’t expect to see.
The response of emergency crews was swift, to save life and property.
The twin towers in New York City later came crashing down,
Killing emergency personnel, bravely working on the ground.
The Pentagon was the target next, the White House, a near miss,
Then a crash in Pennsylvania, and we wondered what was next.
Police, Fire, and EMS, died doing what they loved best,
Helping others in need, we know they passed the test.
Heroic crews sifting through the rubble, rescue is their mission,
But as rescue turns to recovery, they won’t lessen their convictions.
They’ll continue to work tirelessly, throughout the day and night,
To find every last person, they know it’s worth the fight.
To the families of the victims, the country feels your pain.
We’ll show our respect for your loved ones, by flying American flags.
Our fellow Americans lost their lives, a fact that’s hard to swallow.
To the spineless criminals who portrayed this act, retribution is to follow.
So if you wish prepare to fight, or take cover if you want.
God may forgive your evil deeds, but the United States will not.
To the emergency workers who lost their lives when the towers fell,
We want you to know we’ll think of you every time we hear a fire bell.

-Tim Karrels, Firefighter/EMT-I
Saukville Fire Department