Charles County First Responders Gather In Waldorf To Honor 9/11 Victims On 24th Anniversary

WALDORF, Md. — First responders from across Charles County gathered Thursday at Mission BBQ in Waldorf for a Patriot Day ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The event brought together firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, police officers, and emergency personnel to honor the nearly 3,000 people killed and the first responders who sacrificed their lives in the rescue effort. A large American flag, raised from a Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department ladder truck, served as the backdrop as attendees placed their hands over their hearts during the national anthem.

Haley Eng delivered a moving rendition of the anthem, adding a personal touch to the ceremony. Mission BBQ, which hosted the gathering, offered free sandwiches to first responders as part of its nationwide tributes held annually on Sept. 11.

Sheriff’s officials and fire volunteers said the day was both a time of mourning and of unity, a reminder to stand with the families who continue to grieve and to honor the courage of those who “ran toward the fire.”

Nearly a quarter century later, the observance stood as both a tribute to the victims and a call to remember the resilience that followed.