Historical Incidents

Des Moines Firefighters Feel New York's Loss Local Crews Grieve For Fallen Brothers

Sept. 12, 2002

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The events of Sept. 11, 2001 are never far from the minds of Des Moines firefighters. "There's something there every day. It doesn't go away," one firefighter told KCCI NewsChannel 8's Cynthia Fodor.

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DES MOINES, Iowa -- The events of Sept. 11, 2001 are never far from the minds of Des Moines firefighters.

"There's something there every day. It doesn't go away," one firefighter told KCCI NewsChannel 8's Cynthia Fodor.

"I always thing of two words, heroic and horrific, tied to that date," another firefighter said.

On that date, Dennis Frisk and Matt Porter remember watching in horror. "I told him I thought the building was coming down. He said, 'Don't say that. Guys are in there,'" Frisk said.

Their friend, John Moran, did lose his life. They still grieve the loss of the New York Firefighter who stayed with them during RAGBRAI.

"It was like, 'Wow, this guy is incredible.' It's sad to think he's gone forever," one of the firefighters said.

An honor guard from Des Moines will be headed to New York in October, joining firefighters from all around the country for a public memorial service.