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GREENSBORO — At 9:59 a.m. Friday, Greensboro’s fire radio frequencies went silent.

At Fire Station No. 1 on North Church Street, about 30 firefighters and civilian employees bowed their heads as they stood behind the bronze Firefighter Memorial statue.

“Honoring firefighters past, present, and future,” read the words engraved at the statue’s granite base.

On that day, at that time, the phrase held immensely true.

Eight years ago to the minute, amid the darkened dusty halls of World Trade Center’s South Tower, many firefighters lost their lives when the building collapsed.

They were the heroes who ran inside the blazing building in an attempt to rescue stranded office workers after hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the tower at 9:03 a.m.

All Greensboro fire stations flew flags at half-staff, bells were rung and a moment of silence was observed.

It served as a reminder of the lives lost and the undeniable call to service for every man and woman wearing a firefighter’s badge.

“Together you all fought that fight, shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters, and pushed forward to rescue as many people as humanly possible because that is what you do,” said Richard O’Brien, president of IAFF 947 in Greensboro, in remarks directed at the fallen firefighters of Sept. 11, 2001.

“Your heroic actions saved many lives that day and allowed many children and families to not have to endure the pain and loss that your families have to continue to endure.”

Greensboro firefighters were never officially called to service in New York City in the days after Sept. 11. Many went anyway — on their own dime — helping to sort through the Staten Island landfill for human remains and personal items in an effort to identify victims.

Their department patch was left at New York’s Fire Station No. 10, along with those of many other departments that assisted that day.

The Greensboro Fire Department also served as a place of solace for Marilyn Smith, who had just moved to Greensboro while separated from her husband, Leon Smith Jr.

He was a New York City firefighter, assigned to Ladder Co. 118. Marilyn Smith was on the phone with him when he got called to the World Trade Center. He was among those who died that day.

“Her husband always told her to go to a fire station if she needed anything,” said Skip Nix, Greensboro assistant fire chief.

Two local firefighters traveled to Charlotte to pick up Smith’s daughters, where they were enrolled in college.

In the weeks afterward, Greensboro firefighters provided the family with comfort and support during the trying times, just as they would have wanted someone to do for their families.

At a formal afternoon memorial for the victims of Sept. 11, Greensboro fire Chief Gregory Grayson reminded his staff their service is the most fitting tribute to their fallen comrades.

“The greatest tribute we can pay is day and night continuing to serve and protect our community,” Grayson said. 

“Keeping service number one and continuing to answer the call and... be there when someone is in need — that’s the best tribute we can pay.”

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com