9 -11 / First Responders

Plaque on both ends

This Memorial is dedicated to all south Carolina First Responders that willingly risk their lives to protect and serve their fellow citizens.

First Responders Memorial Committee Memorial founder and Chairman Daniel C. Hennigan; Vice Chairman Michael F. Sonefeld
Memorial Committee Partners Dennis Corporation, Enviro AgScience, Inc. Celebrate Freedom Foundation, Tyler Ryan Group, Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism, Carter Goble Lee, Sun Printing, Lexington Co. Sheriff’s Dept., Gregory Electric Company, L-J Inc. General Contractors, Grimball Cotterill Landscape Architects, Pine Press Printing, City of Columbia/Richland County Fire Dept., City of Columbia Police Dept., Richland Co. Sheriff’s Dept., Lexington Co. Dept. of Public Safety, Ted Koon Construction, South Carolina National Guard, Fort Jackson, FDNY CSM Martin R. Wells, Dawn Yamishiro, Memorial Design, NYC Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, FDNY Dept. Chief Ed Kilduff and Firefighters

Funded through the Irmo Fire Foundation

Lexington Life Dan Hennigan
"I'm glad I can get involved in things that improve our community."
The story of the First Responders Memorial began on the morning of September 10, 2009 in front of the Lexington County Administration Building in South Carolina. Daniel C. Hennigan, US Army (retired) stood next to two White Knoll Middle School students as they read their winning essays about their personal 9/11 experience in front of an audience of community leaders and citizens. The honorable guest speakers at this event hosted by Lexington County and the Town of Lexington were FDNY Battalion #32 Chief Jack Oehm, Captain Mike Kendall and Firefighter Tony Catapano (2008 Man of the Year). These three firefighters all represented FDNY Ladder 101 Firehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY, the recipient of the fire truck donated by White Knoll Middle School in early 2002. The truck runs out of this firehouse today on the 10th anniversary of 9/11/2001. After the ceremony, the two WKMS students, along with committee members, teachers, SC first responders, FDNY firefighters, and Mr. Hennigan left South Carolina and traveled to New York to attend a candle light service at the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance in Coney Island, NY.
This service honored the 416 fallen first responder Heroes who gave their lives attempting to rescue citizens in the burning World Trade Center Towers on 9/11/2001. The two WKMS students again read their essays to the thousands in attendance. While listening to the essays and admiring the wall, Mr. Hennigan was inspired to build a memorial to honor the First Responders in South Carolina. On November 19, 2009, Mr. Hennigan applied for artifacts from the destroyed World Trade Center and his request was approved on August 12, 2010. Mr. Hennigan along with SC firefighters Captain Tommy Amick, Captain Ben Smith and Firefighter Burl Vreeland, met with FDNY Chief of Department Ed Kelduff and traveled to New York JFK Airport on September 7, 2010 to receive an award of two steel beams from the World Trade Center. The board of directors, CEO Mr. Ric Luber and GM Mr. Mack Stone granted the Memorial Committee a site for the memorial at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. On September 11, 2010 the beams were part of the ceremony remembering 9/11/2011 in Columbia, SC. Here, Mr. Hennigan, Chairman, and Vice Chairman, Irmo Fire Chief Mike Sonefeld, met Mrs. Dawn Yamashiro who lost her brother on 9/11/2011 in Tower 1. As a committee member Dawn has since provided strength and leadership. Although there are too many to name, other volunteers have stepped forward by contributing their expertise, labor and resources to help propel the project towards completion. Without the dedication and support from Chairman Hennigan and Vice Chairman Chief Sonefeld, along with many South Carolina community leaders, local businesses and committee volunteers, a project like this could have taken decades.

Beam WTC H-0049 and Beam WTC H-0129

"We must never forget our fallen heroes" Daniel C. Hennigan US Army (Retired)

Throughout this nation’s proud history, Americans have selflessly responded in moments of need and crisis. Too many times valiant countrymen have given their lives in the name of safety and security, necessary for freedom.

From 1942 forward the confidence of the courageous has been tempered by the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt just after Pearl Harbor: “The American People, in their Righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”

On 9-11, 2001, terrorists flew highjacked commercial airliners into New York’s Twin Towers, then into The Pentagon in the nation’s capital. A fourth plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field after passengers thwarted highjackers’ plan. Bearing American citizenship was the only offense committed by almost 3000 people.

Because Americans will never forget where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news, every American has a 9 11 story of their own. As thousands were fleeing the burning, collapsing buildings, a brave cadre fought its way into the heart of the abyss. 343 fire fighters, 37 Port Authority Police Officers and 23 NYC Police Officers & one K-9 gave their lives that day while pursuing the safe rescue of their fellow citizens. Just doing their jobs, these men and women sacrificed their lives - with honor and courage. Our nation’s military has since avenged our losses and struck fear into the hearts of our enemies by fighting battles with those that would like to destroy our strong nation in battles all over the world, protecting our nation and keeping her citizens safe.

Since 9 - 11, a grateful nation has referred to any and all of these highly - trained professionals by a single accolade: First Responders. They include firefighters, EMS, our military and law enforcement personnel. What they share is an uncommon adherence to training and discipline as tools for combating crisis. What they bring to crisis is an uncommon regard for humanity. Also, lets us not forget the non-uniformed citizen who joined hands with our First Responders and gave their all.

Carved here in stone, so that we will never forget the price they paid on our behalf, are the names of South Carolina Midlands heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This memorial is dedicated to the memory of those men and women, American Heroes.

“We Will Never Forget”

List of Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters and EMS killed in the line of duty.

List of Military Personnel Killed in Action

Continued list of Military Personnel killed in action