« Back to Blog

First Responder shares his memories at 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Molly Hamilton Sep 16, 2015
Mount Pleasant Fire Department Honor Guard presented colors for the ceremony.

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department Honor Guard presented colors for the ceremony.

Two-hundred people came for a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on the USS Yorktown last Friday to remember the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on our country 14 years ago.  Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., along with the plane crash of Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Mount Pleasant Mayor Linda Page officiated the ceremony and remembered the first responders who served so bravely on that day: “They never hesitated to go into those buildings and save lives.”  She was joined by the Mount Pleasant Fire Department Honor Guard who presented the colors prior to the invocation by Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Herbert Williams.

Singer-songwriter Michael Allen co-wrote a song, “United Through It All,” after the events of 9/11 to express pride in how our nation came together following the great tragedy.  He shared a video at the Remembrance Ceremony featuring scenes from 9/11 and the days that followed along with the song he wrote.

Chevalo Wilsondebriano, now a retired FDNY paramedic, was a first responder on 9/11.

The featured guest speaker was retired New York City Fire Department EMS Paramedic Chevalo Wilsondebriano.  A 9/11 first responder and rescue worker at Ground Zero, Wilsondebriano shared his memories of that horrific day, what he witnessed firsthand on the scene, and how he narrowly escaped from the collapse of the second tower.

While in route to the scene from Queens in the MERV (Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle), he kept his eyes on the towers the entire time he sat in traffic. He watched as the first tower collapsed and on the phone his now-wife begged him to turn around and not go to the scene.  Wilsondebriano never hesitated to do his job.  He said, “I have got to get down there to my guys.”

Retired FDNY Paramedic Chevalo Wilsondebriano talks about his experiences on 9/11.

Retired FDNY Paramedic Chevalo Wilsondebriano talks about his experiences on 9/11.

After the two buildings collapsed, he continued to help try to recover any survivors.  He was devastated when he was told by someone, “We don’t expect survivors.”  Still he worked at Ground Zero hoping to find his coworkers or any survivors. After 28 tours of duty at the scene, he summed up the results with these words: “I found a grand total of zero.”  Of the 343 firefighters killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, three were from his station.

In memory of those firefighters and all other victims of 9/11, “Taps” was played as Wilsondebriano tossed a wreath into the Charleston harbor.

See the gallery below for additional photos of the ceremony:

« Previous Post

Victims of 9/11 to Be Honored at Patriots Point Remembrance Ceremony

Next Post »

Patriots Point Searching For Korean War Veterans Who Served in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • Active Duty / Retired Military (ID required)
  • $19
  • Buy Now
  • Active Duty Military In Uniform
  • Free
  • In Person
  • Veterans / Teachers / First Responders
  • $21
  • Buy Now

COVID-19 Notice

Due to health safety measures related to COVID-19, structured, in-person education programs have been suspended. Please consider booking a guided or self-guided tour for your group.

More Information

COVID-19 Notice

Due to health safety measures related to COVID-19, our overnight camping program has been suspended. Please consider joining our exclusive list to be among the first to learn when the program relaunches.

Interested in booking a day group visit to see our museum? Discounted rates for 10+ people.

More Information