Ceremony honors heroes’ 9/11 legacy at Lawton fire station

At 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, a solemn tradition began at Lawton Fire Station No. 5 as the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001 was remembered, not for its horrors although they were many.

It was to honor the 2,977 people who died that fatefully historic day, 343 of whom were New York firefighters racing to danger to help others on that Tuesday morning 23 years ago.

The Lawton Fire Department Honor Guard stepped to the flagpole in silence, Gabriel Arellano carrying the Stars and Stripes, guarding the sacred fabric with his life.

Joined by Dakota Rosenberry and Jason Sellers, the guard raised the nation’s flag to half-staff before an assembled formation of Lawton’s firefighters, police officers and EMTs.

Arms raised in salute by all, the strains of the Drew Young’s bagpipe singing its melody to “Amazing Grace” the only sound breaking this moment of silence.

Sellers remembered being 18-years-old and going to get his driver’s license that day. It impacted him as he got older and became a firefighter. Being a member of the Honor Guard is a way of acknowledging that.

“I think it’s important to remember the sacrifices,” he said.

Lawton Fire Chief Jared Williams was a young member of the department after serving as a volunteer firefighter before.

“It changed our lives forever,” he said. “It changed how we do everything now.”

One who appreciates these words, maybe more than most is Kathi Ezzo-Talbott. Her brother, Peter Brennan, was one of those 343 firefighters who died doing their duty that Tuesday morning 23 years ago.

Brennan, a 30-year-old firefighter for New York City, had always served his community, Ezzo-Talbott said, her New York accent lingering and endearing with her twist of Okie accent acquired over the years. He joined the Civil Air Patrol at the age of 16 and, as soon as he was allowed at 18, he became a volunteer firefighter. He later joined the New York City Police Department and was at the scene of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured thousands.

After three years on the police force, Brennan worked as a paramedic before being assigned to Rescue 4 with the

On Sept. 11, 2001, Brennan was off-duty, recovering from lung damage suffered while rescuing three of his fellow firefighters from a house fire. On this day, he was beginning service at a new station after transferring from Squad 288 in Long Island. He’d been due to receive a medal of honor on Sept. 14, 2001, according to Ezzo-Talbott.

“The day he went to Rescue 4 was the day he died,” she said.

Ezzo-Talbott has dealt with grief over her baby brother’s death. But it’s his life that has helped her most; the way he lived, the way he cared for his community and the way he served. It inspired her to find that connection in her then-new hometown of Lawton.

Discovering that Station No. 5 was home to a fire hydrant with her brother’s name on it, back when fallen 9/11 firefighters were honored that way, Ezzo-Talbot spoke with then-Fire Chief Bart Hadley about setting up a memorial for her brother at the station.

Brennan’s flag given to the family, his photos and his spirit reside there and inspires those who serve in its station. It was 20 years ago Tuesday the first memorial ceremony happened there. Ezzo-Talbott was there along with donuts for her heroes. She said she brings donuts every Christmas Eve, too.

“It’s my brother’s birthday,” she said. “I’ve adopted them.”

Seeing the turnout of first responders at this year’s even was overwhelming to Ezzo-Talbott.

“Every year it’s getting bigger, bigger and bigger,” she said. “I appreciate it, I totally, totally do.”

The appreciation is mutual from all the hugs and handshakes, smiles and conversations these first responders carry on with the personable and plucky Ezzo-Talbott. And the connection with her brother remains as strong as if in flesh.

“My brother’s here,” she said, “ he has been since 2004.”