Chicago Firefighters Local 2 & Northrup Grumman on the 9/11 Bus!

June 28th, 2011, the 10 Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Bus rolled into Chicago's Quinn Fire Academy around noon. The bus was met by Tom Ryan, Local 2 President, the Chicago Fire Commissioner, and many Chicago Fire personnel.

Craig and Pam, the tour coordinators, were really taken care of by Local 2!

After providing a brief presentation of what the 9/11 Patch Project was all about, the Fire Commissioner gave his approval for the 9/11 Patches on Chicago Fire job-shirts.

About 2 weeks later, after board approval, Chicago Local 2 went with the Platinum Sponsorship and now have their logo on the 9/11 Bus. Local 2 will now finish the tour with us and ride into Manhattan to meet with the FDNY and other New Yorkers.

We want to thank Chicago for welcoming the tour into their organization and really stepping up to support our fund raising mission! We sincerely hope that other IAFF Locals and organizations will also step up and get on the 9/11 Bus to take this historical journey with us!

We want to also thank Northrup Grumman for stepping up and joining the tour with us. We are scheduled for a big visit to Northrup Grumman on August 2nd, at their facility near Baltimore. As you can see, NG was proactive and already have their logo on the bus! I am sure it will be great for them to see their logo on the side of the 9/11 Bus as we pull into Northrup Grumman on the 2nd!

Here is more information about the tour, sponsorships and the fund raising 9/11 Patches and Decals.

Thanks to all those who have supported the 9/11 Patch Project as we also approach our 10th anniversary of helping the world remember the heroes of 9/11.

Brett Hill- Founder

Rockford Firefighters Get On The 9/11 Bus

The 9/11 Patch Project- Fire Careers Bus was recently touring cities in Illinois. Rockford Fire Department was a great hosted tour stop on the Manhattan to Manhattan Tour schedule.

Rockford Firefighters pulled out all the stops and even cooked breakfast and lunch for the tour! The tours great friends, the Pitkins (also Rockford residents) came out and brought some of their friends to greet the bus! 

It was also a great surprise to have Rockford Firefighters get on the bus with us by getting their logo placed near the driver door.

Our "Don't Miss The Bus" promotion gives organizations the opportunity to get their names in the reflective stripe around the bus (Gold Sponsorship) or their actual 12" logo on the bus (Platinum Sponsorship). Getting on the bus with us means you will finish the tour with us and ride into Manhattan with your name or logo on the bus for the FDNY and other New Yorkers to see. It also helps us pay for the tour expenses and raise additional funds.

More about the 10 Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Tour HERE. 

Learn about our 100 Ten Year 9/11 Helmet Window Decal give-a-way HERE.

Got Patch?

As good looking as these guys are, they are not models. They are firefighters-one wearing the 9/11 3-Heroes Patch on his turnout coat and the other wearing the 10 yr Original 9/11 Patch on his job-shirt.

One is Canadian and the other French. Both wear the patches, with the back drop of our American Flag, to honor the memory of the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD heroes that gave it all on 9/11/01. They wear the patches alongside fellow firefighters in the U.S. and 20 other countries.

For nearly 10 years now, the 9/11 Patch Project has been promoting these patches as permanent 9/11 Tribute Patches for the uniforms of Firefighters, EMT's, Police Officers and U.S. Soldiers. Proceeds from the sale of these patches are raised for three organizations; The FDNY Bravest Scholarship Fund (providing $10,000 scholarships for the children of FDNY Firefighters), the Terry Farrell Fund (helping firefighters across America with equipment needs) and the Feal Good Foundation (Helping Fire, EMS, Police, Construction Workers and other personnel who became ill or injured after working at Ground Zero)

The project is open to the public and patches and decals are available for everyone. Rather than just ask for donations to support a cause, we raise funds from the sale of the patches--giving you all something very tangible for your donation. Something that helps the world remember the heroes of 9/11 and something that allows you to wear your heart on your sleeve.

So with the 10 Year Anniversary of 9/11 less than 4 months away, now is a great time for you and your organizations to pick some up- sew them on your clothing-and wear them proudly!

You can get the patches, decals, pins and flags at: 9/11 Patch Project-Order

Wear the 9/11 Patch for this up coming 10 Year 9/11 Anniversary

For nearly 9 years, the Marion Fire Department personnel in Illinois have been wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Pictured to the left is a Marion Firefighter wearing the Original 9/11 Patch.

This organization, along with thousands of others across the U.S., made a decision to honor the memory of their lost FDNY brothers by adding the 9/11 Tribute Patch to their uniforms. Some participated in the project by purchasing their patches years ago--while others, are still learning about the project and coming on board nearly 10-years later.

The 9/11 Patch Project's 10-Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Tour is now in Illinois and will be visiting the following organizations:

• June 9: Bloomington Firefighters, IL
• June 10: Decatur Firefighters, IL
• June 13: Springfield Firefighters, IL
• June 14: Peoria Firefighters, IL
• June 15: Aurora Firefighters, IL
• June 18: Village of Manhattan Police & Firefighters, IL
• June 23: Davenport Firefighters, IA
• June 25-26: Rockford Firefighters, IL
• June 28: Chicago Firefighters, IL

If you are in any of these areas for any of these dates, please come by each Cities headquarters fire station and help support our awareness and fund raising mission.

We also hope that if you are on the fence about whether of not to participate by wearing any of the 9/11 Patches or displaying any of the decals, the 10 Year Anniversary of 9/11 is only a couple of months ahead and a great time to make your move. Get your patches and decals now at: 9/11 Patch Project.

Four Words--PLEASE DON'T FORGET US!

"PLEASE DON'T FORGET US." These four words were spoken to an LAFD Firefighter from an FDNY Firefighter at Ground Zero, September of 2001.

As the LAFD USAR Task Force was getting ready to leave, after their initial 2-week tour at Ground Zero, they were shaking hands and one FDNY firefighter grabbed my friends hand--held it firmly--looked him straight in the eye--and deliberately spoke those four words. I heard this from my LAFD friend who had just returned from Ground Zero. He told me this because I asked him what touched him the most after spending two weeks there working alongside the FDNY, trying to recover fellow firefighters who were lost in the rubble of the World Trade Centers.

These four words led me to start the 9/11 Patch Project nearly 10 year ago. The project would produce a 9/11 Tribute Patch for all firefighter uniforms--a way to honor fallen brothers--a reminder of what we all signed up for--and a way to raise funds for the families of the fallen. I was a firefighter/paramedic of 15 years at the time, working in Southern California.

In the first year of the 9/11 Patch Project, mailers were sent to all fire departments across our nation. Some took the mail as junk and tossed it--some thought it the work of an opportunist wanting to capitalize on the death of firefighters to make money, and tossed it--and some ordered patches and continue to wear them on their uniforms to this day. The first run of patch orders brought over $15,000 that was donated to the FDNY Uniform Firefighters Association on September 11, 2002.

Today, I still send mailers but reluctantly. More of them are thrown away as Chiefs and Union Presidents remain skeptical or just feel it's time to move on. I send emails but most are taken as spam and are deleted or just ignored. The 9/11 Patch Project newsletter is even shrinking--and most are on the list because they made a purchase or signed on at some point and time.

What recently inspired me to write this blog was a response I received from the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association after asking for their help to spread the word about the 9/11 Patch Project's 10 Year 9/11 Anniversary Plans to their State's Firefighters. One of the Board Members of the IFCA brought it up at one of their meetings and he told me there was just not enough interest in the project. WOW...have we really forgotten? Or is that just the feeling of the Fire Chief's in Idaho? (one of the first major 10 Year 9/11 Anniversary Tour stops was  in Jerome, Idaho.) I don't fault the messenger as I truly believe he thought highly of the project. Still on the other hand, the Nevada Fire Chiefs Association posted the info right on their home page. You can see it still there listed as the 2nd bullet point. Hit and miss but mostly miss! It's a lot of work but I never quit!

Even after 10 Years have gone by--many in America seemed to have moved on. Or at least the fire departments across the nation. Even with an endorsement from the FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers Association--fire departments remain skeptical or have just moved on. It's sad but I have witnessed the decline in support over the years, first hand.

You see when this project began nearly 10 years ago it was about remembering--not just for a year or two--remembering was supposed to mean forever.

As for me and the history of the 9/11 Patch Project, I will continue to remember and try and help the world continue to remember the heroes of 9/11. I'm not obsessed--I just feel a duty to continue responding to the words of one FDNY Firefighter nearly 10 years ago, who asked us on behalf of his brother FDNY Firefighters to never forget. Will you continue to remember? If you are a Fire Chief, will you lead--inspire--make your firefighters feel strong--try and bridge the enormous gap between chiefs and rank and file? Or will you tell them like a parent tells a child, it's time to forget about it and move on?

If you want to remember and continue to support the project, know that when you purchase the items on the project website that you are also contributing to the 9 year fund raising effort.

9/11 FLAG

The 9/11 Flag seen flying in front of this home belongs to a supporter of the 9/11 Patch Project and a supporter of the heroes that gave it all on 9/11.

The flag measures 3' X 5' and is a standard size flag. There are two sides of the flag sewn together to make it durable and able to withstand extreme weather conditions. Both sides are mirrored images so that when put together, has the stars and strips both right and left positioned--like a normal American Flag.

The material is a strong nylon/polyester and due to the double material--it will not tear during extreme wind conditions. The flag was made this way to ride on top of or behind fire apparatus and stay in tact.
 

The 9/11 flag can be used as a banner, fly from a pole or be hung at an event.  As seen in the picture to the right, the 9/11 Flag is hanging at the Harley Center in San Diego.

However people decide to display the 9/11 Flag, it is the 9/11 Patch Project's hope that all American's across our land with show their support this 10 Year Anniversary of 9/11, by getting one or two.

As is the case with the 9/11 Patches and Decals, these flags are also used to raise funds for the FDNY Bravest Scholarship Fund, The Terry Farrell Fund and the Feal Good Foundation.

The Loxley Fire Department chose the 9/11 Flag to fly next to the American Flag on the rear of their apparatus.

Other fire departments have elected to also fly the flag from the top of their apparatus or even hang it on the rear of the apparatus as a banner.

Get your 9/11 Flags here: 9/11 FLAG

A 9/11 Uniform Patch That Traveled Around the World

Belgian Firefighter "Bob"

Meet Bob, a firefighter from Belgium. Although, I have recently been corrected to refer to Bob as a "Belgian Firefighter." Bob supports his brother firefighters by wearing the 9/11 Patch on his Class-A uniform--a purchase he made nearly 10 years ago after the tragic events of 9/11.

No politics--no cultural differences--no boundaries, just a firefighter honoring the loss of hundreds of FDNY firefighters many thousands of miles away. Even though the patch bears the image of our U.S. Flag, he wears this patch from another country right on the front of his uniform.

Bob is not alone. Even today, nearly 10 years later, orders from Belgium come into the 9/11 Patch Project regularly. And Belgium is not alone, as orders from Germany, Sweden, Japan, China, Italy, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries continue to come in as firefighters and citizens alike, from these other countries, want to show their support for the lost heroes of 9/11. 

Italian Father and Son Firefighters

Ten years later, the 9/11 Patch Project reflects on the work the project has done. You see, it's been about more than just a patch. It's been about bringing both public safety and citizens from all countries back together--it's been about unity. The patch traveled around the world and has shown up on uniforms everywhere--making this project the largest and farthest reaching 9/11 Project in the world.

No back slapping and celebrating here; whether it's one of the 4 patches, decals, pins or flags, that people wear or display, it sends a clear message to folks around the world: We are united, strong, tenacious, enduring...WE ARE ONE!

With Bin Laden dead and forever lost at sea, we can move forward this 10th Anniversary of 9/11/01. We will still not forget the brave sacrifice our heroes made nearly 10 year ago but the patches, decals, pins and flags sends a message to the world that despite the time that's passed--the resiliency of our nations--WE WILL TRULY NEVER FORGET those that perished at the will of the most hated evil doer in the world.

So do you have your patch? Does your organization wear it already? There's no sunset to this project--remembering is forever. So pick your patch or decal up now and be counted.