Cincinnati veteran shares firefighter's stories of sacrifice, service following 9/11 terror attack

John Norman served in Cincinnati Fire Department for 25 years

After joining the Cincinnati Fire Department in 1988, John Norman witnessed firsthand the city's resilience and the bravery of first responders following the September 11th terror attacks.

Norman has dedicated his life to serving his community and sharing the stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Norman recounts his experience on 9/11

On September 11, 2001, Norman was serving as a lieutenant at the Cincinnati Fire Department's Station 16.

As news of the attacks spread, Norman and his fellow firefighters were eager to help, but they were unsure how they could contribute from Cincinnati.

They eventually learned that a team of firefighters from Cincinnati would be sent to New York City to assist with the rescue and recovery efforts.

Norman was part of the team that was deployed to New York City

Norman was one of the 50 Cincinnati firefighters who volunteered to travel to New York City to help with the rescue and recovery efforts.

The team spent several days searching through the wreckage of the World Trade Center, looking for survivors and recovering the remains of victims.

Norman said that the experience was both physically and emotionally challenging, but he was grateful for the opportunity to help.

Norman reflects on the 20th anniversary of 9/11

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Norman said that he is still haunted by the memories of that day.

However, he is also inspired by the stories of courage and sacrifice that emerged from the tragedy.

Norman said that he believes that the best way to honor the victims of 9/11 is to continue to serve their communities and to never forget the lessons that were learned.