Fairgoers feel 9/11 tragedy up close

As we watched on television as the Twin Towers were first struck by planes and then collapsed into heap like a house of cards, it seemed like a fiction story. But to the surviving New York firefighters and law enforcement personnel, the day was very real.

“It was a dream of mine to become a fireman,” said Ed Breen, a retired battalion chief with the New York City Fire Department who was assigned to Ladder 23 during one of the darkest days in American history.

“I decided to become a fireman because I always wanted to help others. But (9/11) wasn't like anything I ever expected to happen.” Breen and his brother-in-law John Martorann, both of New York, served as tour guides for the educational, yet emotional “9/11 Never Forget” mobile exhibit that was immensely popular during the Lyon County Fair in Marshall this past weekend. The exhibit is housed inside a 53-foot semi-tractor trailer that unfolds into an 1,100-square foot structure.

“I drove all the way from Sioux Falls because I wanted to see this,” said Ed Paulsen, looking at a twisted and charred door panel from a New York fire truck that was involved in the 9/11 search and rescue.

“I watched the towers go down that day and it just didn’t seem real. Now that I’ve seen this museum, it puts it all into perspective. Even to look at this piece from a fire truck makes me so sad.”

The mobile exhibit was opened four years ago by the family of Stephen Siller as a tribute for all those who sacrificed on Sept. 11, 2001.

The intention of the exhibit is to ensure that we never forget those who were killed as a result of the terroristic acts, and that America’s youth understand the sacrifices of many on that day.

One woman inside the museum on Saturday twice had to lift her glasses in order to wipe her eyes while reading a heroic story on one inside wall. “So sad,” she muttered to no one in particular. “Just hard to believe someone would do this.”

Breen had the day off on 9/11, but like many other firefighters who were off duty that day, rushed to the scene upon hearing the news of the Twin Towers being struck by hijacked planes.

“The towers were down when I got there,” said Breen, who was a firefighter for 23 years before retiring in 2013.

“I was assigned to Ladder 123 and we immediately began search and rescue.”

“At first, we were on our hands and knees digging through the rubble (at Ground Zero) looking for survivors. I knew a lot of the firefighters that lost their lives that day. One of them was John Moran, who was in my wedding party. It was an honor to serve with all of them and I that’s why I wanted to help with this museum.”

Because the day seemed so overwhelming to him, Breen said it was hard to focus on what he was actually doing that day. “It really didn’t sink in at first,” he said.

“You just do what you’re told. I didn’t realize it until a few days later when some of the Red Cross workers handed us some hot food and I thought to myself, ‘What are they doing here?’ That’s when it all began to sink in.”

As he spoke about the events of the day, Breen often glanced at a wall inside the structure that showed a photo of the towers collapsing, as if taking his mind back to that day.

The exhibit provides interactive education, including artifacts, news and video recordings. Some of the artifacts are from the Twin Towers, fire and rescue trucks, and even some of the rescue workers themselves.

On the walls were gripping photos of the horrific day, including powerful quotes from survivors, witnesses and journalists. Videos of the planes slamming into the Twin Towers, news accounts, rescue missions and more played in each of the rooms inside the mobile museum.

Firemen from nearby towns came to the museum to meet the New York firemen who lived through this tragic day, and to pay respect to those who did not survive.

“It’s an honor to meet you,” one fireman from Russell told Breen as they shook hands.

“The honor is all mine,” Breen responded.

The exhibit was started by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which is named for late New York firefighter by the same name that lost his life while attempting to rescue those buried in the rubble after the towers collapsed.

“They call this the Never Forget Exhibit,” said Paulsen.

“I think anyone going through this exhibit would find it almost impossible to ever forget.”