About a dozen local firefighters are about to embark on a long journey to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“We got 42 days until 9/11,” said Batt. Chief Buck Buchanan, a retired LA County firefighter. “I’d really like to see a groundswell of patriotism come back.” Buchanan helped organize the cross country bike ride that got underway Sunday at the Santa Monica Pier and was expected to take 40 days to reach New York.
In all, eleven firefighters were taking part in the memorial tribute.
“We’re going to pay our respects for those that were lost on 9/11 and to try to bring awareness to the American people about how important a date this is,” said Buchanan. “A lot of people aren’t aware of the fact that we are coming up on more people dying, firefighters dying in the aftermath of 9/11 from working the pile, recovery, from 9/11 related cancers and illnesses.”