8th annual 9/11 memorial address

[Chaplain Matt Caward]

I've had several requests for the speech that I delivered at the 8th annual 9/11 memorial service so I am posting it here for everyone. It was my distinct honor and privelage to give the words of encouragement to so many. I hope you are as encouraged as I was.



9-11 memorial BELL CEREMONY 2008
The call of a fireman is a very special and unique honor. It is a calling that not everyone answers. Contrary to popular belief though, the fire service is actually not made up of extraordinary people. It is rather, made up of normal everyday people that are willing to serve their fellow man in an extraordinary way.
We all know and have witnessed the fact that there are many risks in the fire service. Living and serving in this field comes with the reality that you must be willing to sacrifice for your community.
That sacrifice takes on many different forms. It requires you to sacrifice your time. Time away from your family. It requires you to sacrifice financially. No one ever got rich by serving in the fire service. And at times you may even be asked to place yourself at risk and sacrifice your very life.
Every fireman lives with this reality. It is not likely that I will die in the line of duty when I kiss my baby girl goodbye in the morning and head off to work. I am certain that that idea never crosses her little mind. It is however a possibility that I know exists.
What makes a fireman so extraordinary is not knowing that they may die, but rather the fact that even though that is a risk, they still answer the call. They are willing.
Firemen are not in any way exempt or devoid of fear. Firefighter’s feel fear just like any person does. The definition of courage is not being without fear. The definition of courage is the idea that even though you are afraid, you go anyway.
That is what makes the fire service so unique and the people that serve in this capacity so extraordinary. We all know the risks that are involved in fighting fire and placing yourself in harm’s way for our community.
Firefighters do not serve for glory or financial reward. I can’t imagine what could possibly be said to my little girl if I were not to come home to her because I gave my life in service for my community.
I don’t believe that anything you could say to my little girl would bring her much comfort at all. She doesn’t care that my death was honorable or special. The harsh reality is that my little girl’s life would be changed forever.
My wife and my daughters would not likely be satisfied with any explanation. And yet I and so many others like me answer this call. Why would we do such a thing? Why would anyone risk their life for people they don’t even know?
Why would I risk the life of my wife’s husband? Why would I dare risk the life my baby girl’s daddy?
How could I do such a thing? Well, I believe that Jesus’ words in the Gospel tell us exactly why I answer the call. He tells us that this idea of giving your life for your fellow man is the ultimate example of love. In fact, He sais that there is no greater love then someone who willingly gives His life for his fellow man.
Elsewhere in the scriptures we come across the word Eh Bed: It’s the Hebrew word for service.
This Hebrew word found in the original text of the bible, is an action verb. Translated it literally it means: to expend great intensity and enthusiasm for the purpose of others.
The Bible expresses exactly what the fire service is all about. We expend great intensity and enthusiasm for the service of our community.
Firefighters answer this call for many different reasons. If your were to ask a dozen firefighters why they answer the call you would probably get as many different reasons.
No matter the personal reasons or the many different answers, the fire service is about sacrifice. It is to me the very definition of servant hood. It is the very definition of the word courage, and it is the very definition of the greatest form of Love.
We are here today to remember the sacrifice that was made by so many on this day 8 years ago at the World Trade Center.
We gather here to pay tribute to the fact that so many stared at danger. That they placed their fathers, mothers, sons and daughters lives in harms way for people they never even knew.
Those brave men and women intensely gripped with fear that we can only imagine, decided that while they were afraid they went anyway. Their courage and sacrifice is what we honor today.
It is their selfless act that we will never forget. An act of courage and sacrifice and love. A love that is greater than any other.
We honor them and we mourn for them. United this day with a nation of people that share in their sacrifice.



While we mourn we may be asking some difficult questions. Its natural and healthy to do so. Today I won’t attempt to answer why the attacks happened nor do I believe that it would be any comfort to any of us if I did.
What I would ask instead is where was God in this tragedy? You see, I am a very spiritual person. So much so that I have devoted my life to serve firefighters as a Chaplain.
If God is real then where was He. Certainly He was around He saw what happened he saw the many men and women dying and hurting and the many lives that were affected by such a horrible act of terrorism.
You see I believe He is real and He did see what had happened. I also believe that His message for you today if you are asking this question is expressed so eloquently in a poem by
Stacey Randall as she writes:

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001. Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Goodbye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but its OK ... I am ready to go."
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home – you need only believe in Me now."
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was with the Firefighters, the Police Officers, the Emergency Workers. I was there, watching each brave step that they took.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor. Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take My hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you will know you are "ready to go." And I will be in your final moments as well.


In the bible there is a story about a man named Job. It is one of the oldest stories ever told. It tells about a man who tragically looses everything he has. He was a very wealthy man and looses all of his animals all of his servants and all of his children all within the matter of a few minutes.
Now there are many wonderful lessons we can glean from this story but the one aspect I would like to highlight for you today is what happens at the end of the tribulation that befalls Job.
After Job’s suffering we are told that Job remained true in his faith in God despite the afflictions and tribulation that befalls him. It is because of this faithfulness that God blesses Job. In fact God doubles all of the things that he had lost.
Job lost thousands of animals and God gives him twice as many as he had before. He doubles all of His animals. Job had lost 10 children. God was doubling everything he had lost and he continues this by giving him 10 children 7 boys and 3 girls.
Now if you any good at math you know that if you double ten you don’t get ten again. I thought God was doubling everything. How is ten children doubled. It’s doubled because waiting for Job in Heaven is the first 10 children Job had lost. Job’s family was doubled, and waiting for him in heaven were the rest of his now 20 children.
Just because his family had died doesn’t mean that they are gone forever. We may feel alone but here in the story of Job God subtly reminds us that one day we will be re-united with our loved ones.
This life is not it. Waiting for us in heaven are all of those who have gone on before us.

The fire service of today is ever changing, but it is also steeped in traditions over 200 years old. One of these great traditions is the sound of a bell.
In the past, as fire fighters began their tour of duty, it was the bell that signaled the beginning of that day’s shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell.
The bell summoned these brave souls to fight fires and to place their lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizen. When the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell that signaled to all the completion of that call.
And when a fire fighter had died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice, it was the mournful toll of the bell that solemnly announced that comrade's passing.
We utilize these traditions as symbols, which reflect honor and respect for those who have given so much and who have served so well. To symbolize the devotion that these brave souls had for their call of duty, a special signal of the bell represented the end of a comrades’ duties and that they will be returning to quarters for the final time.
Please stand with me as we render the final honors to our comrades.
Before the advent of radios, pagers, or cell phones, fire alarms and daily announcements were dispatched from the department’s central headquarters to outlaying firehouses by a system of bell commands.

Each alarm or announcement had its own number and series of bell strikes. When a firefighter died, Headquarters would transmit a special signal of three rings, three times each.

This custom of rendering final honors to departed comrades is known as the final alarm.

And now, in keeping with this tradition I ask the Bernalillo County Fire department’s Fire Chief, Chief John Garcia if he will stand and give the order to sound the final alarm.


Call company to attention.
“COMPANY ATTENTION”

Call Honor Guard, Color Guard and those in uniform to Present Arms.
“DETAIL PRESENT ARMS”

Sound the bell

Call Honor Guard, Color Guard and those in uniform to order arms.
“DETAIL ORDER ARMS”
The final Alarm has been sounded and it is with deep regret that we acknowledge our brothers and sisters who have paid the supreme sacrifice in their service to their communities this past year and the many years before it. We honor specifically those that gave their life on Sept 11 2001.
For their families. For their wives and husbands. For their little girls. And for their sons. We honor our brothers and sisters with a moment of silence.
And now their tasks completed, their duties well done, to our brothers and sisters, this was their final alarm.
FIRE FIGHTER’S PRAYER
When I am called to duty, God
Wherever flames may rage
Give me strength to save a life
Whatever be its age.
Let me embrace a little child
Before it is too late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
And hear the weakest shout,
and quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
To give the best in me,
To guard my friend and neighbor
And protect their property.
And, if, according to your will,
I must answer death’s call;
Bless with your protecting hand
My family, one and all.