Remembering 9/11 as US and Australian Firefighters Run Across America Starting on August 12th, 2010

At precisely 8:46am Thursday August 12th of 2010, the exact time that the first plane crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11th of 2001, a total of thirty-four firefighters from both the United States and Australia, along with two police officers, one from Las Vegas Metro and one from New York’s Port Authority, set off on a ‘Tour of Duty’ in remembrance of 9/11. The team will run across America to pay tribute to their fallen firefighter and law enforcement colleagues on what has been called the worst day in America.

This journey, which began at the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California, will take thirty-one days, twenty-seven of which will be running days, with a culmination at the World Trade Center site in New York on September the 11th of 2010. This is the first such endeavor of it’s kind with teams of two runners who will each literally run for a straight twenty-four hours.

James Dowdell, a firefighter with the FDNY, says of this homage to honor the memories of those brave souls who lost their lives on 9/11, “Once this idea was out there and people were talking about it, you just couldn’t say no when asked to be a part of it.”

From the point of departure from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, the first two runners, an American and an Australian, will head up Ocean Avenue to Wilshire Boulevard, all the way to the foothills of San Marino, and then on the 210 Freeway where they will head to their first stop, Las Vegas, NV. They will be followed by an American Pierce fire engine, several RV’s and a food vehicle.

Other cities they will be running through include Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, Washington DC, Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and finally, New York City, where the runners will pass over the Brooklyn Bridge at 6:00am on September 11th and arrive at Ground Zero in time for a special ceremony which will begin at 8:46am. Each day of this 4900 mile journey will be dedicated to those individuals who will never be forgotten for their bravery, those who in the line of duty tragically lost their lives.

Over eighteen months of training helped prepare these professionals for this arduous and inspirational journey. Patrick Butler, Assistant Fire Chief of the LAFD, was emotional as he explained his feelings about the run. “This is just awesome! It’s truly amazing to see that other firefighters around the world were affected by 9/11. Even as far away as Australia, people were moved. It’s just such an honor to be able to pay tribute to the fallen together as a team. There is this unique bond amongst first responders.”

National anthems for both the United States and Australia were performed just before the run. Fire Captain, Cedric Williams, of the North Las Vegas Fire Department sang the USA anthem and Australian singer Annabelle Priftis sang on behalf of Australia. The MC of the event was the Australian broadcaster Gavin Wood, and he was joined onstage by the Australian Consul General of Los Angeles, Chris de Cure, and Councilman Bill Rosendahl of Council District 11, who welcomed the runners on behalf of the city of Los Angeles.

Also at the event were LAFD fire trucks, US firemen and the Fire Department Pipe Band. A horse-drawn steam-powered fire engine was drawn by three white horses in an amazing display of support as well as hope for the future of our world.

Run Across America started this morning at precisely 8:46am to coincide with the exact time that the first plane crashed into the South Tower on September 11th, 2001. To find out more about the run and follow the journey online, visit www.tourofduty.com.au for all of the latest updates and to watch this journey as it is documented live-stream several times a day via satellite.

Funds raised will be donated to several charities nominated by the Fire Fighters and Emergency Services of America.