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Firefighters
remember 9/11 at conference
BY EMMA BURGIN
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
GREENSBORO – Deputy Chief Keith Price didn’t know anyone who
died in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist att
a ck s.
He’d had dinner with a couple of people who lost their lives that
day, but it was just a dinner. They weren’t close.
“The day hits closer to home for some people than others,” Price
said, remembering that one of his colleagues at the High Point Fire
Department lost friends in the World Trade Center coll
ap s e.
Five years later, the N.C. State Firemen’s Association is
remembering the events of that day during its annual conference this week
at the Sheraton Four Seasons.
The theme, “Remembering 9/11,” resonated with Price.
“We need to remember what the threat is out there and that we can be
in the same position at anytime,” he said. “It could happen here. We have
the potential with the (High Point Market). It’s an international market.”
More than 1,000 firefighters from across the state gathered Thursday for
the second day of the four-day conference. Several High Point firemen, including Price, have
plans to stop by the conference.
“It’s a chance for a lot of firefighters to get together,” said
Keith Price, deputy chief for the High Point Fire Department. “We learn
new ideas from other departments. We get to interact.” N.C. Treasurer
Richard Moore stopped by Thursday to discuss firefighters’ retirement
benefits. Moore
recently pushed for an increase to the Firemen’s and Rescue Squad Workers’
Pension Fund, which allots benefits to volunteer and career firefighters
after retirement.
Price is a career firefighter, but he’s glad the Pension Fund also
helps volunt eers.
“I’m glad we have everything we can get in far as taking care of
us,” he said. “It’s a fairly hard job. Most guys would do it for nothing.
It’s just something they love.”
eburgin@hpe.com |888-3533
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