Twelve years to the day of the Sept. 11 attacks, a group of firefighters and volunteers are hard at work to assure the victims claimed that day are never forgotten.
The Remembrance Rescue Project is a not-for-profit created by firefighters to restore, preserve and showcase Rescue 4 and Rescue 5 – two of the first responder vehicles on the scene at the World Trade Center some 12 years ago Wednesday. The two units are the only two surviving heavy rescue trucks to respond to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
The 20 men and women who staffed those trucks were all killed in the Trade Centers’ collapse, and the trucks are used as traveling educational tools, historical artifacts and memorials.
The Remembrance Rescue Project acquired Rescue 4 after its removal from service and completely restored it in September 2011. It now operates from Texas. The Project acquired the last of the surviving FDNY rescues, Rescue 5, in December 2011 and operates it from Chicago.
The Project is fully operated by firefighters from across the country who volunteer their time. Donations are used for fuel, maintenance and travel costs for the Rescues.
Recently, several trucking industry manufacturers came to the aid of the project. Continental Tire the Americas, LLC’s Commercial Vehicle Tire group, Detroit Diesel Corporation, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products and Snider Fleet Solutions announced a cooperative sponsorship of the Remembrance Rescue Project.
Continental, which began sponsorship in 2012, will continue to provide replacement truck tires for the Remembrance Rescue Project, providing sets of HTC1 steer and HDR2 drive tires for the rescues. Due to the Project’s touring schedule, the new tires are needed to ensure safe operation of the trucks over long distances.
“It is our honor to continue providing truck tires for the Remembrance Rescue Project in support of firefighters everywhere, as well as to remember those who gave their lives in the September 11 attacks,” says Alex Chmiel, head of marketing and communications for Continental truck tires, the Americas.
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products joined the sponsorship by providing new heavy duty forged aluminum wheels. The addition of the new wheels reduces the amount of maintenance needed for the Project and offers a needed replacement for the aging wheels of the rescue engines.
“It was extremely important to us to donate new wheels to these rescue engines,” Matt Brest, director of marketing for Alcoa Commercial Vehicle Wheels, says. “While our products are in use on heavy duty and emergency vehicles throughout the world, we are especially proud that this set will be used to restore the Remembrance Rescue Project engines to look as they did while in active service on 9/11.”
Detroit, the manufacturer of the original Series 60 engines in the Project’s two rescue trucks, is providing a multi-year donation of engine maintenance funds for the Project. The Project will be able to access funds for all of the routine engine maintenance to keep up with the demands of the appearance schedule.
“We are extremely pleased to announce our sponsorship of these unique pieces of American history with the Remembrance Rescue Project,” said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. “…we are proud that our Series 60 engines will support the important mission of these firefighters.”
Snider Fleet Solutions, headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., joined the sponsorship by offering installation of the new Alcoa wheels as well as mounting and balancing of the new Continental truck tires. An authorized Continental truck tire dealer, Snider Fleet Solutions will perform the service at its Charlotte commercial truck center in October.
“Our certified technicians are honored that we are trusted to work on this incredibly special vehicle, and we as a company are honored that we can help commemorate firefighters across the country through the Remembrance Rescue Project,” said John Snider, CEO of Snider Fleet Solutions.
To learn more about the Project, click here.
