From dawn to dusk the St. Ignatius Fire Department firefighters stood outside Allard's Stage Stop in full gear with empty gear lying below the American flag to represent the lost lives of first responders during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.  

While soberly standing in full gear, the firefighters reminded passers-by to “Never Forget.” They joined their peers around the Mission Valley in this tribute to the men and women who died on Sept. 11.  

“It's easy for the general public to forget it. If they're not volunteering to do anything, if they're not seeing firefighters save a life, it's easy to forget,” said St. Ignatius Fire Chief Paul Adams. “People get so wrapped up in their own little worlds.”      St. Ignatius fire chief, Paul Adam, lieutenant Ray McGonigle and training and safety officer Kevin Dandridge stand in front of their fire trucks on Sept. 11 to pay tribute to the 343 firefighters' lives that were lost during 9/11. (Emily Messer / Leader)

Kevin Dandridge, the safety and training officer for the department, added, “The preach after 9/11 was ‘Never Forget’ and we make sure of that.”  

As Adams stood beside the 9/11 memorial imprinted on the side of their fire trucks, he explained that day is like Veterans Day for firefighters. During the attack, 343 New York firefighters died while responding, and Adams said this number of lives is why they stand all day.  

“Volunteerism in the United States is a dying breed, and the people that are doing this on a daily basis are giving everything, including their lives, on a daily basis,” Adams said. The choice to stand at attention “is just paying our tribute to the people that are giving their lives,” whether as volunteers or paid first responders. 

“It's a rough day, but for those that have given everything, it's well worth it,” Adams said. “It’s our little piece of it.” 

Other departments also paid tribute to 9/11, including the City of Polson Fire Department. Firefighters also had empty gear to represent the lives lost on 9/11, and took turns standing outside of NAPA Auto Parts with their ladder truck.  

Clint Cottle, Polson fire chief, said every hour they swapped out a firefighter in full gear who would stand in front of the truck.    Polson fire captain Peter Bishop holds the American flag on Sept. 11. Polson firefighters stood soberly outside NAPA Auto Parts to pay tribute to the lives lost on 9/11. (Emily Messer / Leader)

“It's just a way for us to pay tribute to and remember the lives of the first responders, and all the other lives that were lost in the state,” Cottle said.  

Towards the afternoon of Polson’s tribute, a group of about 10 flag wavers joined in, standing near and across from NAPA. Kathy Shore explained that they often gather and wave flags for elections and Flag Day, but this year they decided to come out for 9/11.  

Nancy Cameron from Big Arm organized the group and had her husband play “Going Home” on the bagpipes.  

“Today it’s a sad and sober occasion with Charlie Kirk and also because it’s 9/11,” Shore said, referencing last Thursday’s assassination of the young conservative activist. “We were going to do this before Charlie was assassinated, but that really brought it home.”    Nancy Cameron organized a group of flag wavers to stand on the sides of Highway 93 in downtown Polson. (Emily Messer / Leader)  Sandra Carr holds a flag with the group of flag wavers and wore her Turning Point USA hat after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. (Emily Messer / Leader) 

On Sept. 12, Mission football had their homecoming game against Plains, and before the game they also paid tribute to 9/11. The American Legion Honor Guard carried flags onto the field before the game and were followed by local first responders including police and firefighters.  

Game announcer and community member Stuart Morton read off a speech about 9/11. 

“Many of you were not yet born on 9/11 or you were too young to remember, but the responsibility to carry forward this memory now rests with you. Remember that freedom is not free, that courage and service matter and that unity in the face of hardship is what defines us as Americans,” Morton said. “So, we gather here in St. Ignatius under the big Montana sky. Let us never forget the lives lost.”      The American Legion Honor Guard presents the flags during the Mission homecoming game. First responders joined the guard to pay tribute to the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. (Emily Messer / Leader)

 Milo Crooks runs onto the field with an American flag at the start of the homecoming game against the Plains Horseman. (Emily Messer / Leader)