Canyon Lake Firefighters Sponsor Annual Sept. 11 Freedom Walk Across the Dam

The first guests to arrive around 8 a.m. at the Sept. 11 Freedom Walk Across Canyon Lake Dam will see 20 Canyon Lake firefighters dressed in full sets of turnout gear laboring mightily up and down the steep slopes of the dam.

Canyon Lake Professional Firefighters Association (CLPFFA) President Charles Richard says Canyon Lake Fire/EMS firefighters want the public to see them sweating, hot and tired when the first shuttle buses from the Dam Red Barn pull up to Overlook Park for the official ceremony, which starts at 9 a.m.

They’ll be wearing bunker pants, jackets, air packs, boots, helmets, and gloves just like the 343 doomed firefighters who died trying to make it up 110 floors or 2,071 steps of the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center after terrorists flew planes into them on Sept. 11, 2001.

The drama underlying CLPFFA’s homage to these fallen first responders is intentional. Since taking over the beloved community event from the Canyon Lake Republican Women, CLPFFA has worked to reimagine the proceedings to make them even more meaningful to Canyon Lake residents.

“We are walking up and down the hill to simulate the work the men and women put in on 9/11 climbing those 110 stories,” Richard said. “…We put the pressure on ourselves to do it right. We want to be a staple of the Canyon Lake community every year and we want to be involved as much as possible with the community.”

CLPFFA has added other details, like sounding the horn on a fire truck at the exact moment planes hit the Twin Towers.

Parking opens at 7 a.m. in the nearby Dam Red Barn parking area, 16520 S. Access Rd. Free shuttle service is available to the public. Firefighters will make two trips up and down the dam hill beginning at 8 a.m.

The official ceremony starts at 9 a.m. Peaches Kelly will sing, Bill Jones will play bagpipes, a quartet from Canyon Lake High School’s Varsity Choir will perform the national anthem, and Ethan Bailey with the Hawk Band will play taps on the trumpet.

Canyon Lake Fire/EMS Capt. Robert Thoele is the featured speaker.

The public is invited to walk the dam from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. A special celebration follows at the Dam Red Barn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Comal County Sheriff’s deputies will provide security. Bottled water will be provided.