Six years ago, Carbondale firefighters smelled the dust in the air of ground zero at the World Trade Center.

Today is the sixth year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that took more than 2,700 lives. Although there is no large planned event in Carbondale, the day still lingers in many peoples’ minds.

Firefighter Kenny Matthews said he remembers the awful smell of ground zero.

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“It was a mess,” he said. “There was a bad smell and the buildings were still burning.”

When the crew went to New York a month after the planes hit the towers, they attended memorials of the dead throughout the day. They were there to help in any way they could.

Even though the day has been given the name Patriot Day and it is remembered by many, Carbondale doesn’t have a major memorial anymore.

Matthews said Carbondale should have more memorials so the memories of the fallen don’t fade.

“Carbondale’s just not into it,” he said. “It would be nice if they did something every year because it means a lot to us. You would think they would show a good example, but they don’t,”

The firefighters said they had a close connection to 9/11 because they saw families mourn their loved ones. When they were in New York they were treated like kings, they said.

Firefighter Jimmy Johnson attended about two funerals a day when he went to New York. Although many people died on Sept.11, Johnson said the tragedy brought the U.S. together.

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“Since then, there has been a comradery among people,” he said. “I have noticed that the country has more patriots then before.”

Assistant Fire Chief Ted Lomax said the firefighters that died were heroes. He said they changed the way he views his job.

“What they did that day was amazing,” he said. “It changed my life. It truly did. When that phone rings or someone needs help, I’m there to help.”

Daily Egyptian writer Alejandro Gonzalez can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 273 or at [email protected].