Area fireman walks through Mansfield paying tribute to the lives lost on 9/11

(Editor’s Note: The firefighter and an accompanying friend requested for the reporter to not publish their names in the story. Due to the nature of the story, the editor granted the request.)
Several people saw a fireman walking the streets of Mansfield in his firefighter on Wednesday, Sep. 11.
Many people stopped and asked if something was wrong. The fireman told everyone who asked “No, it is 9/11.”
Every year, he walks the streets of Mansfield, usually starting at the time the first plane hit the first twin tower back on Sep. 11, 2001.
He is carrying a radio that plays the sounds of that horrific morning that shook the country the world.
He said, “He doesn’t want people to forget the tragedy.”
He works for a Webster County/Greene County area fire department and he is not alone in his efforts of paying tribute to what happened on that day.  He made it clear that he is a part of a larger group effort to remember this day in history.
Many others do something on this day every year to show respect. There are staircase climbs that firefighters do in other towns annually.
Since Mansfield does not have a stadium, he tries to walk the number of miles equivalent to the number of firefighters that were lost that day, which is 3.43 miles for 343 firefighters that were killed.
This firefighter usually walks for three to four hours every morning on 9/11.
He weighs about 200 pounds and was carrying at least 100 pounds extra with his gear.
He continued on last Wednesday, even as the temperature rose with the sun beating down, nobly carrying the American flag reminding people of the tragic attack on America that happened that day.
He said, “Never forget it!”