TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – 343 firefighters died on Sept. 11, 2001 rushing in to the twin towers but never making it out. <\/p>\n
After the terror attacks, stunned firefighters across the country did what they do best, they stepped in to help. <\/p>\n
Two Tallahassee firefighters made the trip to New York in the months after 9\/11, bringing thousands of dollars in donations and the hugs and hopes of the capital city with them. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe it\u2019s been 25 years, to be honest with you,\u201d retired Tallahassee Fire Department battalion chief Hal Eastman said. \u201cIt seems like it was yesterday in some ways and other ways, it feels like an eternity ago.\u201d <\/p>\n
Eastman remembers rushing to TFD Station 4 the morning of Sept. 11. He and fellow firefighters watched one of America\u2019s darkest days unfold. <\/p>\n
\u201cTo lose the number of firefighters in one tragic event, there\u2019s not a firefighter across the country that didn\u2019t feel that impact,\u201d retired TFD battalion chief Jarvis Bedford said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe started trouble shooting, figuring out what we\u2019re going to do and Jarvis, myself, we came up with the idea with a bunch of other people, it\u2019s like hey, let\u2019s do a boot drive,\u201d Eastman said. <\/p>\n
Within days, the firefighters hit street corners in Tallahassee to collect donations for the families of NYFD\u2019s Rescue 1. Donations started pouring in, with many drivers in tears as they rolled down their windows and stuffed bills into the boots. <\/p>\n
When it was all said and done, TFD firefighters had raised more than $60,000 and Eastman and Bedford flew to New York to deliver that money in person. <\/p>\n
Accompanying those New York firefighters to Ground Zero was beyond anything they could have imagined. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat was kind of a tough day when we rode in to Ground Zero,\u201d Eastman recalled. \u201cJust to see how big this whole thing was and the amount of people, it was just surreal to be honest with you. It really, truly was.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just so many emotions. It\u2019s just so real. It\u2019s almost like a movie set. I think there are times when you\u2019re sad and other times when you\u2019re angry and often times just confused on why and how this could happen,\u201d Bedford said. <\/p>\n
Both men have many memories of that day, that trip, and the firefighters and families they met. <\/p>\n
Eastman shared some of those memories this week with young firefighters who just pulled in from a call, including one who was just weeks old on Sept. 11, 2001. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States is strong. You know, we have our disagreements, we have our political disagreements. We have all that kind of stuff, but the reality of it all is in that moment after 9\/11, this country came together.\u201d <\/p>\n
When asked what they wanted the men and women of Rescue 1 to know when they got to New York following 9\/11, the message was unity. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat we\u2019re here for you, that you have brothers and sisters across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n