Fire Station 28 Will Never Forget

Where were you the day JFK was shot? When the statement was uttered "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind?" Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001? Houstonist remembers exactly where we were when the tragedy occurred: watching a television at work, amid of a handful of employees at an office downtown, wondering, "Is that a Die Hard movie?” But then we noticed the CNN logo in the corner of the screen and we watched as the unthinkable happened — the second plane flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center and, one by one, the towers came down.

Of course, we're not the only ones who remember — and among the other people trying to keep the memory of the 9/11 victims alive is a Houston firefighter, Mike Smith, who is building a memorial to the people who died in the World Trade Center. The story of the monument at Station 28 came from the Southwest News. Unfortunately, it's not online, but here's a description:

"Outside the station, a scaled-down replica of the Statue of Liberty stands with torch in hand, her body shrouded by the American Flag. ... Next to Lady Liberty stands another statue, entitled 'The Rock.' The piece portrays a firefighter emerging from undefined burnt debris, accompanied by a dalmatian."

The memorial was dedicated Sept. 11, 2002, a year after the attack and following a trip Smith took to New York during which he learned what New York firefighters went through. It's a work in progress, including a photo wall and the names of FDNY members killed written at the entrance to the station.

If you're in the Galleria area, drive by Station 28 (at 3100 Chimney Rock Road). Firefighters are part of a brotherhood, regardless of location, and those in Houston — like ones across the country — haven't forgotten the tragic losses incurred on 9/11. We owe a debt of gratitude to those across the nation who serve the public and put their lives on the line for us simple folk.