This trip, the culmination of a project conceived four years ago, required significant mobilization from the young people and their association to raise the necessary funds. Through lotteries, badge sales, and active social media engagement, they financed their project and found supporters.
Bonds had already been forged with the United States, notably during a preparatory visit by some leaders to New York the previous September, which included meetings with the consulate and a firehouse tour.
The stay coincided with the 25th anniversary commemorations of the September 11th attacks, lending a special dimension to this experience. The young firefighters discovered the world of their American counterparts through visits to the Fire Academy, several fire stations, and direct exchanges with FDNY members.
A significant moment was the helmet presentation ceremony at an American firehouse, symbolizing the bond created between the young firefighters from Sénas and their comrades from the FDNY.
The encounter with a member of a 9/11 victims' association, who lost her brother in the attacks, was particularly impactful. She accompanied them during their visit to the World Trade Center site, offering a poignant perspective.
The young firefighters also officially participated in the ceremony on September 9th, representing France alongside families of the 343 firefighters who died. On September 11th, they marched in the commemorative parade starting from the Brooklyn Bridge, proudly carrying the flag with their American counterparts.
Another ceremony took place on September 11th in front of firehouse Engine 10/Ladder 10, opposite the 9/11 Museum, with the laying of wreaths on behalf of the Département des Bouches-du-Rhône and Pompiers13, honoring the 343 FDNY firefighters lost.
This experience allowed the young people, most of whom were not yet born during the attacks, to pay tribute alongside the firefighters who lived through them, fostering a duty of remembrance that transcended borders.
After four years of training, this trip to New York marked a strong shared adventure, defined by encounters and tributes to the victims of September 11th. Thanks are extended to the director and SDIS 13 for their trust.
