9/11 Fundraising Bus Tour Back in MB

Four words sparked former firefighter Brett Hill's 9-11 Patch Project, "Please don't forget us."

Those words, uttered by a member of the Fire Department New York to a Los Angeles firefighter who had traveled to Ground Zero to assist in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, were relayed to Hill who told Manhattan Beach Patch, "So I heard that and it stayed with me. I wanted to really plan my reaction to this whole thing around those four words.”

Monday afternoon at the Manhattan Beach Fire Department, Hill welcomed home partners Craig and Pam Freeman, founders of FireCareers.com, from a nine-month, 13,000-mile bus tour from Manhattan Beach to Manhattan, New York, to remember 9-1-1 and raise funds.

The Freemans traveled through 35 states and visited more than 175 organizations in their Class-A motor home, raising funds for the FDNY Bravest scholarship fund, Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, and FealGood Foundation.

The trip, conceived by the trio in January, netted close to $20,000, with each of the three foundations receiving approximately $6,400 apiece.

Hill's 9/11 Patch Project was founded in December of 2001, with a focus on creating and selling patches designed as a personal tribute to the attacks on September 11.

Each patch reads, “We will never forget.”

Since December of 2001, more than 5,000 organizations in 22 countries worldwide have contributed by purchasing patches to place on their uniforms, helmets, and vehicles.

Of his 9-11 Patch Project Hill said, “As a firefighter, everybody had their own reaction to the 9/11 tragedies. Just like other firefighters, I was devastated. I wanted to do something.”

During their trip, the Freemans sold patches and decals, as well as collected donations, with all of the proceeds going to organizations dedicated to assisting those affected by 9/11.

“We had the chance to talk to people who were actual survivors of 9/11, people that were actually there,” Pam said. “Many of their stories were sad and bone-chilling, so it was quite an eye-opening experience for me. To hear their firsthand experience was very moving.”

The tour primarily stopped at firefighting agencies but did visit other locations as well.

Upon their arrival, Craig and Pam would address the group of firefighters in attendance, telling a few quick tales of their humbling journey.

“It was the most amazing thing, when we would enter a community, how the firefighters and the community received us,” Craig said.

Said Pam, “It was an amazing adventure, as we went across the U.S. and talked to the different firefighters at the different fire stations. The brotherhood is alive and well. We loved hearing their stories.”

FireCareers.com is a forum for firefighters to look up job postings and meet as professionals, and has a special service for firefighters who have been laid off.

Said Craig of Sept. 11, 2001, “Ten years ago, I was a training captain in the Oxnard City Fire Department. I felt a little helplessness because I couldn’t get to New York and help. So, I looked forward to this journey as an opportunity to finally give back and contribute.”