Annually, the City of Scottsdale Fire Department (SFD) coordinates a special event to commemorate the attacks of 9/11.
On the fifth and tenth anniversaries, a pop-up museum showcased larger-than-life displays in the Scottsdale Center of the Performing Arts. On the other years, a small ceremony in the police and fire headquarters lobby featured the reading of the names of the public safety members who died that day.
This year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, the fire department knew it had to be creative to continue to honor the day and those lives lost. Instead of an in-person event, SFD is celebrating the National Day of Service with an idea sparked by the organization 911Day.org and using social media to tap into the human spirit.
In 2012, 911Day.org launched the #IWill campaign to encourage everyone to do something good in their community. This could being there for someone who needs it, making a charitable donation, or packing meals for local food banks.
Scottsdale Fire is capitalizing on this do-good campaign and bringing it to the local community.
“Our mission is ‘We Care for You,’” says Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon. “With this campaign, we hope that everyone takes even just a moment to share in that mission and remember our brothers and sisters who gave their lives that day.”
Participating is easy. Individuals or groups simply take a photo holding a piece of paper with a personal pledge to honor those lost on 9/11 by doing something good. Photos can be posted on their individual social media accounts using the hashtags #IWill and #WeCare (tagging @ScottsdaleFire). The photos can also be emailed to [email protected]. Photos of completing the pledge are encouraged, too. The department will begin sharing the photos during the week of 9/11 starting Monday, September 7.
