Carthage community holds remembrance walk in honor of 9/11

CARTHAGE, Texas (KLTV) - Monday will be the 22nd anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history: the 9/11 attacks.

On Saturday, one East Texas town held a remembrance walk to honor those who were victims of the attack and those who bravely tried to save lives.

A big crowd turned out in front of the Panola County courthouse in Carthage for the third annual 9/11 remembrance walk.

“We do it to remember those that gave their lives on 9/11. There were 2,977 lives lost that day, some 750 firemen who responded to that particular call, and they never hesitated to go up in the towers to bring those people down. On that particular day, they saved 99 percent of the people in the towers below where the planes hit,” said Carthage Fire Chief Gene Giles.

Originally organized by the city’s fire department, the event involved each walker wearing a lanyard bearing the name of a firefighter or police officer who died in the 9/11 attacks.

“Honor the lives lost on 9/11. Kids that are coming out of school these days weren’t born when 9/11 happened, and we do this with our community and department to remember and honor,” said Carthage Fire Marshal Randy Lidetke.

“Last Wednesday, they added 43 names to the wall in New York, and these were people that were there to try to rescue people,” Giles said.

The event is also meant to honor those who inspired a phrase that has become a part of our vernacular: first responder.

“They gave their lives to save people they didn’t even know,” the fire chief said.

Walking to nearby Carthage Bulldog Stadium, they stopped to ring a bell for each name, and then walked 412 steps in the grandstands.

“There are 412 steps, if you count them up and down in the stadium, and there were 412 responders that lost their lives. You know, it’s a part of our history, and we do not want to forget that,” Lidetke said.

Several hundred people took part in the remembrance walk.

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