Fort Walton Beach seeks 343 residents to ring memorial bell for fallen 9/11 firefighters

Fort Walton Beach, Florida – A fire bell will ring 343 times in Fort Walton Beach on Sept. 11, once for every New York City firefighter who died in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago.

But the Fire Department does not want its own crews to carry out the remembrance alone. It is asking 343 members of the public to each take part, ringing the bell and signing a guest book in honor of the firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The 25th anniversary memorial will be held Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Fort Walton Beach Fire Station 6, located at 5 Hollywood Boulevard NE.

The observance begins at 7:46 a.m. Central Time, marking the exact moment the first hijacked aircraft struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Residents do not have to arrive at the opening time, however. The department said people can stop by during the morning or afternoon to participate in the bell-ringing tribute.

“On this 25th anniversary of 9-11, we honor our fellow firefighters, who responded to this terrible tragedy in spite of the dangers they faced and sacrificed their lives for the safety of others,” Fort Walton Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Baxley said in a release.

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Several visual reminders will also turn the fire station into a memorial site for the day. A large American flag will hang from a ladder truck in front of the station, while the department’s vintage 1946 Chevrolet fire truck will be displayed for visitors.

Community businesses are also contributing to the event. Chick-fil-A will provide breakfast biscuits, while Lost Pizza Co. will donate pizzas for lunch.

The remembrance will continue beyond the fire station later that evening.

Fort Walton Beach firefighters plan to display the large American flag again at Fort Walton Beach High School’s football game against Milton High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Steve Riggs Stadium.

Twenty-five years after the attacks, the department’s memorial is built around a simple act: one person, one bell ring, one firefighter remembered. By inviting exactly 343 people to participate, Fort Walton Beach is giving residents a direct role in honoring the firefighters whose response on Sept. 11 became one of the defining stories of sacrifice from that day.