SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The impacts of 9/11 extend far beyond what happened 25 years ago, as many families continue to feel the lasting effects today. A local group marched 21 miles today to pay tribute. The goal of this 8th annual March to the Memorial is simple: to ensure those lives and sacrifices are never forgotten.
Led by the sound of bagpipes, roughly 30 marchers took to the roads today for a 21-mile journey from Erskine Plaza to St. Patrick’s Park. The event was started eight years ago by South Bend resident Bob Lyons, who was working in New York City on 9/11 and wanted to help educate others while bringing people together. Today’s group included everyone from survivors to younger generations who only know the attacks through history lessons.
"And when I walk these 21 miles, I don't train. I just feel those firefighters you hear in the documentaries saying, 'don't stop, don't stop'." said 9/11 survivor and March to the Memorial participant, Cindy Laney. “So, this is for those who didn't make it. It's now also for those first responders, because we’ve had more people pass away from working at Ground Zero than who died in the actual event."
Along the 21-mile route, marchers made seven stops at local fire stations to engage with community heroes and encourage neighbors to join in for portions of the walk.
"Our rest stops are fire stations, so it fosters community engagement with our first responders to say, 'thank you for what you do, we love you guys and gals,'." said event founder, Bob Lyons. “That day, total strangers helped save each other's lives. We bring a little bit of that to the walk because over time, we create a small family."
Organizers emphasized this was a non-political event meant to recapture the unity the country felt 25 years ago, while bridging the gap between past heroes and South Bend first responders serving today.