Crime & Safety

Remembering 9/11: Brooke Davies

This member of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad was one of the responders at the Pentagon.

Brooke Davies, a member of the , was among the responders to the Pentagon in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Davies, an American University law student at the time, recalls watching news reports with others, in shock. Shortly after, she knew she wanted to be among the responders.

“Part of being a firefighter is you want to serve the community, and it doesn’t matter what type of event it is,” Davies said.

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“After hearing about all of the firefighter and police deaths in New York, it was more of a need to feel like we were actually being useful. We weren’t affected in the same way down here, but there’s a certain sense of solidarity.”

Davies responded to the Pentagon on Sept. 12 to assist a paramedic unit in case survivors were discovered in the wreckage overnight.

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She recalled the long drive from Bethesda, down Massachusetts Avenue through Washington, D.C.

“Every half mile or so, there would be a large group of residents just out there waving flags and thanking us,” Davies said.

“It was a very touching moment .... Very rarely do firefighters and EMS folks get recognized for the things we’re willing to do, without question.”

This photo was created as part of a larger project in coordination with Action America to document how the country has been affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Patch spoke with several of those affected by 9/11 in our area including a a and a

See how you can become an Actionist and turn the events of 9/11 into positive action at www.ActionAmerica.com and look for more local coverage of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Patch.

How has 9/11 affected you in the last 10 years? Please share your post-9/11 remembrances with us in the comments section below.


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