Community honours fallen heroes
“The event is not held just to pay tribute to the fallen but to make sure people never forget about them.”
Firefighters South Africa Motorcycle Association, in partnership with SA Emergency Care and Fireman’s Tavern, hosted their annual 9/11 mass memorial ride.
The ride which was held on September 9 started at Makro Centurion and ended at SAEC in Modderfontein.
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“The ride’s objective is to make people aware that we will never forget about 9/11,” said SAEC member Elmaré Liebenberg.
“We honoured and celebrated the lives of the 343 firefighters, emergency personnel, first responders and volunteers from across the world who lost their lives in the line of duty.”
More than 200 motorcycles, 30 emergency vehicles, 30 cars from the Volkswagen Club, and private vehicles took part in the mass ride.
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Groups which attended included SAPS, ER24, Off-Road Search & Rescue, Netcare 911, the VDub Volkswagen vehicle club, Harley Owners Group, National Sea Rescue Institute, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Services and the Knysna and Districts Pipe Band.
In addition to doing the memorial ride, a wreath-laying ceremony was held for the three Johannesburg firefighters who died on September 5.
Simphiwe Moropane, Mduduzi Ndlovu and Khathutshelo Muedi died while attending to a fire at the Bank of Lisbon building.
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Former firefighter and founder of the event Jan Liebenberg decided to commemorate the lives lost at the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2000, three years ago.
“There was a lot of support from the community and only positive feedback from everyone who attended the event,” said Elmaré.
Jan said the event was very effective.
“The event is not held just to pay tribute to the fallen but to make sure people never forget about them,” he said.
“We will always honour and remember those who gave up their lives.”
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