Marking the 15th anniversary of 9/11, staff, instructors, learners and visitors gathered together at the Fire Service College to hold a two minute silence to enable attendees to reflect on the events that took place in the United States. This was followed by the opening of the new home of the Twin Towers Memorial at the College.
On the first anniversary of September 11, the Fire Service College dedicated a room centrally situated in the Four Shires building, as a show of solidarity for those members of the New York Fire Department who lost their lives. This memorial is now housed alongside the UK Firefighters Memorial Heritage Collection, close to the Chapel at the College.
Links between the College and the US have always been strong and the memorial includes not only artefacts presented to the College over the years but also a collage of photographs of the members of NYFD who lost their lives, images of Ground Zero and a letter from the New York Fire Chief.
Stephen Tyrrell, College Chaplain, led a short Service of Dedication prior to the Twin Towers Memorial opening in its new home as an area of quiet reflection and remembrance.
The UK Firefighters Memorial Heritage Collection includes significant heritage of assets gifted to the United Kingdom Fire & Rescue Service. Included within the collection is a range of Fire & Rescue Service related historical paintings, sculptures, firefighting equipment, paper records and photographs, uniforms, mess table silver and various other memorabilia. The Firefighters Memorial Trust holds these heritage assets in trust for the UK Fire & Rescue Service.