On Wednesday morning, Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper and Acting Fire Chief Christopher Cross led a brief but poignant remembrance ceremony in front of their shared facility at 909 S. 2nd St. with a large contingent of local first responders, the Marshalltown Combined Honor Guard and about 25 members of the public in attendance.

Tupper became emotional as he shared that 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers lost their lives on 9/11, but he also spoke fondly of the national spirit of unity apparent in the days and weeks following the attack.

“After 9/11, the country united behind a common purpose. Law enforcement and public safety focused on the disruption. Law enforcement gathered intelligence. They worked to stop the bad actors before they could attack again,” he said. “All levels of government and public safety got involved.”

Before that crucial moment in history, the chief added, local, state and federal agencies didn’t always communicate well with each other, but collaboration became a focal point afterward.

Members of the Marshalltown Combined Honor Guard perform a 21-gun salute during a 9/11 remembrance event outside of the police/fire building on Wednesday morning.

“We worked together to prevent further attacks, and we learned a lot of valuable lessons. We strengthened our relationships with our local partners, and with the backing of the American people, a generation of public servants answered the call to tackle a new terrorism threat,” Tupper said.

In a high-tech era, threats have become more complex and frequent, but Tupper said strong partnerships and a sense of shared sense of responsibility have helped to combat them.

“As a community, we must all work together to stay vigilant. As we mark the anniversary of Sept. 11, we mourn the people we have lost, extend our sympathy to their families and loved ones and express gratitude for those who sacrificed both home and abroad to keep us safe,” he said. “We owe it to them to recommit to these lessons learned through blood, sweat and tears in the aftermath of 9/11. We owe it to them to remember how united our country was after the 9/11 attacks, and it is our obligation to unite our country once again. Division has been the word of the day for far too long. We will be stronger together. We will be better when we love our neighbor. The loss of those brave souls on 9/11 will be in vain if we allow division and terror to rule the day.”

Chaplain David Shearer then delivered an invocation prayer recalling the horrific events of the day and expressing his sympathy for the families of those who lost loved ones.

“Father, we come before you now in remembrance. May this time never fade from our memories. May each of us remember that we are part of a great nation and that we want to serve and work together,” Shearer said.

Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, front, addresses the audience while Acting Fire Chief Christopher Cross, back, looks on during the remembrance event on Wednesday morning.

Cross led a moment of silence for the victims of the attack and then explained the significance of the sound of the bell ringing for firefighters, which historically summoned members to the station, signaled the beginning of a shift, notified departments of a call for help and indicated a call was completed and the unit had returned to the station. Departments also sound a series of bells when a firefighter dies in the line of duty to alert members that a comrade made the ultimate sacrifice.

After explaining the history of the bell ringing, which has its origins in New York City, Cross performed a customary striking of the four fives to honor the firefighters who perished on Sept. 11, 2001.

“The signal five five five five has been transmitted. It is with regret that we announce the deaths of these faithful servants who we gather here today to memorialize,” Cross said.

Shearer then led another prayer asking God to protect those in law enforcement and the fire service, and the Combined Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute before Paul Hermanson and Burt Tecklenburg took turns playing solemn renditions of “Taps” to wrap up the event.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.