The annual I & I Firefighters Association Ride honoring the victims of 9/11 took off on Sunday morning (Sept 10th) from the Village Mall parking lot. Dozens on motorcycles led the way, starting at 10 AM. I & I represents firefighters throughout Vermilion County, as well as some in Champaign County and Western Indiana. Prior to departure, I & I Firefighters’ Don Hudson stated that in memory of all 9/11 victims and everything first responders did on that day, this event raises money for today’s first responders.
AUDIO: We have a special account that the money goes into. So we can help our own firefighters here locally. Any firefighter or EMT that’s a member of the association; if for any reason they’re off work; whether they’re sick, hurt, or worst case scenario if they’re a fatality; we donate some money to them or their family. And we have helped several firefighters over the last several years now.
Danny Mullins, from the Post 210 American Legion Riders, volunteered with the Bismarck Community Fire Protection District for 16 years. He says everyone certainly remembers what was felt on 9/11.
AUDIO: As a matter of fact, I’m thinking everyone that’s been a young person to an older person remembers what they were doing on 9/11. 9/11 is our Pearl Harbor. I was listening to the radio. I was off work that day. They were talking about it and I rushed home; turned the television on, and I was glued to the television the rest of the day. I was watching all of that unfold, angry that we had allowed that to happen in the United States.
Sunday’s ride included stops at Sunset Memorial Park, the VA Danville National Cemetery, lunch at the Paxton Fire Station, Homer Indianola, and a final stop back in Danville at the Little Nugget Steak House on Route 150.
