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ArlingtonArlinThe gton Connection Everyday Heroes News,News, PagePage 33 Classified, page 17 Classified, ❖ A Reminder Sports, page 16 ❖ News, Page 3 9/11 Tribute Entertainment, page 13 Events News,News, PagePage 33 Wellbeing Page 6 “The Mourning Rose,” a muralist’s reminder of 9-11. inside Requested in home 9-8-11 home in Requested Time sensitive material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Attention PERMIT #322 PERMIT Easton, MD Easton, PAID U.S. Postage U.S. How Arlington Changed STD PRSRT News, Page 4 Photo by Michael McMorrow/The Connection online at www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.comSeptember 7-13, 2011 Arlington Connection ❖ September 7-13, 2011 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Arlington Connection ❖ September 7-13, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Arlington Connection Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Photos by Photos Pam Brooks /The Connection First responders at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Firefighters from Arlington’s Arlington Everyday Heroes Fire Station #5 remember 9/11. Remembers By Maya Horowitz Back at the station, he found his captain 9/11 TRIBUTE The Connection chain-smoking cigarettes in the apparatus Saturday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. Arlington County will honor the 184 lives lost bay, where the fire trucks are kept. They during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the Penta- t Arlington County Fire Depart- turned on the TV in time to see the second gon. At the Air Force Memorial — overlooking ment Station 5, Jefferson Dis- plane hit the World Trade Center. the Pentagon Memorial — the event that will trict, the heroes of Sept. 11 lead Dixon’s unit stayed behind and didn’t include the U.S. Air Force Band Brass Quintet A Ensemble, Joint Armed Forces Color Guard, routine, everyday lives. On Fri- make it to the Pentagon until 3 p.m. Some- Arlington County Combined Honor Guard, day, Sept. 2, they were watching television one needed to field fire calls from the county Wakefield High School’s a capella choir “The and making spaghetti. while all the other trucks were helping at Madrigals,” Macedonia Baptist Church Music Ministry, and a commemoration by the Penta- But 10 years ago, these men risked their the Pentagon. gon Memorial Fund’s Jim Laychak. This event is lives at the Pentagon. Some are nonchalant free and open to the public. about their involvement — as firefighters, SPECTOR HAD JUST returned from an they have learned to see risk as a necessary apartment fire when he too turned on the POLICE/FIRE/SHERIFF 9-11 MEMORIAL 5K part of their jobs. TV in time to see the second plane hit the Saturday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m. “The past 10 years I’ve had a lot of time World Trade Center. He got a call for an- The route starts/ends in Crystal City and runs to reflect,” said Derek Spector, a firefighter Lieutenant Byron Dixon next to a other apartment fire. by the Pentagon. The run benefits a variety of at Station 5. “A lot of firefighters call Sept. As he was leaving, he heard what sounded charities related to Sept. 11 and military fami- picture of the Pentagon on 9/11 lies. 11 the call of a lifetime, but it was still just like a jet, a screeching sound, an explosion From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. the following roads a call.” terday.” and then felt the concussion wave go will be closed: “You’re just a firefighter doing a job,” said Lieutenant Byron Dixon and Spector were through the firehouse. ❖ Army Navy Drive, between South Fern Deputy Fire Marshall Mike Crider. both on duty at Arlington fire stations and Forgetting about the apartment fire, be- Street and South 12th Street. ❖ South 12th Street, between Amy Navy Even if it was just another fire to put out, remember that it was bright and sunny, a cause “You never pass a job to go to a job,” Drive and Crystal Drive. something intangible has stuck with each beautiful day. They were going on calls, like Spector and his crew headed in the direc- ❖ Crystal Drive will be closed from South firefighter about that day. usual. tion of the flames. They were the first Ar- 23rd Street to South 12th Street. Red Top Cab will donate $1 for each ride dis- “It has some significance,” Spector some- Dixon was on a medical call when the lington unit to arrive at the Pentagon. patched on the upcoming anniversary, along what begrudgingly admitted. “Everyone patient’s husband urged the firefighters to Crider had just finished a 24-hour shift with contributions from drivers and employees, remembers where they were. I remember look at the television. “No, sir,” Dixon re- to the 10th Annual Arlington Police, Fire & Sher- pretty much the entire day like it was yes- plied. See Firefighters, Page 7 iff 9-11 Memorial 5K. All proceeds will go to 9-11 related charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project and the Fisher House. A reminder of “9-11.” FLAGS ACROSS ARLINGTON The Mourning Rose During week of Sept. 11 To commemorate the events of Sept. 11, Ar- By Michael McMorrow lington County encourages all property/home The Connection owners/tenants to display an American flag. Photo by Photo FIRST RESPONDERS CUP rive east along Wilson Boulevard in Arlington and just Sept. 9-11 before Clarendon a giant red rose captures the eye. Faint Up to 38 teams from North Carolina, Mary- land and Virginia will compete in the annual D Michael McMorrow writing to the side reveals its origin: “September 11, First Responders Cup — a Girls Fast Pitch Tour- 2001.” nament, bringing together teams from those Local artist Thomas P. Mullany had painted a mural on that wall areas directly affected by the attacks of Sept. 11. some years earlier with flowers as a prominent element. When The tournament benefits Pentagon Disaster Re- maintenance of the brickwork became necessary, the patron called lief charities and runs Sept. 9-11 in Arlington. Mullany about refreshing that work. With “9-11” on everyone’s SPECIAL SEPT. 11 VIDEO PROGRAMS mind, patron and artist agreed to a replacement mural in the na- Arlington Virginia Network (AVN) is running ture of a memorial and also to extend the floral theme. The mourn- special Sept. 11 programming throughout the /The Connection month. Programs include: ing rose was born. ❖ Five who were in charge at the scene “I am still pretty proud of it,” said Mullany in a telephone con- ❖ Presentation of Pentagon Stone versation. He thought the piece still had meaning on the eve of ❖ USS Arlington christening ❖ the terrorist attacks’ 10th anniversary. Pentagon Memorial ❖ 9-11 Heroes Highway Tim Reese was the patron. Not long after the mural was com- ❖ Interview with Pat Creed pleted, he closed an Arlington career in commercial real estate ❖ Interview with 9-1-1 Operator Lisa Thomp- son. See Mourning Rose, Page 19 3240 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Arlington Connection ❖ September 7-13, 2011 ❖ 3 News How Arlington Changed Post-9/11 security has influenced everything from planning to policing. By Michael Lee Pope Arlington County The Connection eople often make the mistake of saying New PYork and Washington were attacked on 9/ 11. But as everyone in Arlington knows, that’s not true. New York and Arlington were attacked. And it’s never been the same. This unit from the Fort Myer Fire Depart- As was the case in jurisdictions across the county, ment was at the Pentagon when American Arlington added new security measures — some of Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the build- which officials say they can’t talk about. But many ing at 400 miles an hour, causing the of the changes are public, including an array of vehicle to catch on fire. changes to everyday life. Post 9/11 security created a need to move 17,000 Department of Defense work- the threat.” ers out of Crystal City, vacating 4.2 million square Across the county, government buildings have feet of office space and opening the door for a new added metal detectors and hardened security proce- long-range plan for the neighborhood. It also cre- dures. Even the school system got into the act, lock- ated a new Homeland Security Section in the police ing all doors and implementing new procedures that department and a sense that the county should be force visitors to enter and exit through specific doors ready for a wider range of emergencies than previ- that are under continuous surveillance. ously imagined. “Before 9/11, most of our security procedures were “The most important change is that before if some- about evacuation,” said School Board member Libby thing major happened, you would have to call the Garvey. “After 9/11, we now have much more of a SWAT team,” said Capt. Kevin Reardon, head of focus on shelter in place.” Arlington’s Homeland Security Section. “Now road New lines of communication have opened between officers are better equipped and trained to handle See Efects of Post-9/11, Page 5 We Bring the Showroom to YOU!! 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