As Americans prepare to mark the anniversary of one of the most tragic days in our country’s history, Clovis offers a unique opportunity to reflect on Sept. 11, 2001.

Robert Dwyer, a retired New York City firefighter who was there that day, reminds us why we must remember:

“We always talk about never forget. I just feel like the country has forgotten a lot about what’s going on. We forget that these things can happen to us, that we’re not immune to it.”

The 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit Rolls into Town

The 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit, a traveling museum run by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, rolled into Clovis recently. Billy Puckett, the exhibit’s field manager, explains its purpose: “We go to different cities throughout the country to spread the word about what happened, 9-11, talk about the first responders and the people in the building that died that day.”

Related Story: Why Fresno’s Legion of Valor Museum Matters to All Who Love Freedom

The exhibit offered a powerful journey through time. “When you come in our exhibit, you’ll see many, many articles that were found in the rubble,” Puckett describes. “We have pieces of fire trucks that were completely destroyed that day.”

Lisa Benham-Lewis, a board member of the California 9-11 Memorial, emphasizes the exhibit’s educational value: “It’s very, very important to us as educators, us as adults and parents, to bring our students, bring our kids out to a memorial like this to teach them what happened on 9-11.”

The exhibit pays tribute to the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice. Dwyer shares a personal reflection: “We lost 343 firefighters that day. We’ve lost more than 370 since to 9-11 illnesses. So we talk about that.” This stark reminder underscores the ongoing impact of that tragic day.

Honoring the Fallen Heroes

The Story Behind Tunnel to Towers

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, named after firefighter Stephen Siller’s heroic actions on 9/11, runs the exhibit. Puckett recounts Siller’s story: “Stephen had worked the night tour, and he got off at 9 a.m. that morning. He was on his way home… and the north tower had been attacked. He turned around and came back.”

From tragedy, the Siller family built a foundation of hope. Dwyer explains: “We’ve now expanded to the military. Any military that dies in the line of duty and they need help with their mortgage, if they have a family at home, we pay their mortgage.” The foundation has paid over 1,200 mortgages for families of fallen first responders and military personnel.

Clovis Prepares for a Day of Remembrance

Clovis again is preparing for a special 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Heather Calandra, vice chair of the California 9-11 Memorial Board of Directors, invites the public: “On 9-11 we welcome the public to come and pay respects as we honor, educate, and remember those that lost their lives on 9-11. It is on September 11th on Wednesday. The first step off is at 8:30 a.m.”

The ceremony will feature a special guest speaker, George Martin, a retired New York Giants football player. Benham-Lewis shares: “Mr. George Martin… walked across America raising money for those victims’ families that touched his life after 9-11.” The event will also include a wreath-laying ceremony and the playing of the tones that went off on 9/11.

A Community United in Remembrance

This commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of our nation’s resilience. As Benham-Lewis puts it: “We were all Americans on 9-12 and it’s just a great reminder that we today as Americans need to continue uniting, being strong, and coming together for the common good.”

The remembrance ceremony annually provides Valley residents a chance to honor, educate, and remember. In doing so, they ensure that the sacrifices made on that fateful day will never be forgotten.

About the Author

GV Wire Producer Dean Kirkland is the founder and director of Gas and Gears, an independent film production company that has produced numerous television series and feature films, including the award-winning documentary “Racing Through The Forest” (2014).