First Responders Remember 9/11 | Charleston News

When Matthew Cobb, Arlington’s Chief Fire Marshal, got his pager on 9/11—despite being off-duty—he raced to the Pentagon as flames roared and chaos erupted. His team was among the first responders, plunging into smoke and uncertainty. Years later, he shares harrowing lessons from that day, now teaching resilience to new firefighters. Though no first responders died instantly at the Pentagon, seven firefighters and two police officers later succumbed to 9/11-related cancers. A memorial shaped like the Pentagon honors them, alongside a steel beam from Ground Zero—a tribute to all who answered the call. Cobb also recalls meeting his wife that day, turning tragedy into hope. Now, he and fellow survivors push for a permanent national memorial honoring heroes from all three attack sites, ensuring their courage lives on for generations. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/46a5da056f77d8b3