Tour of Duty Run Honors Those Who Perished on September 11th

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Firefighters, police officers, and EMS workers from Australia and the United States have come together to honor the 411 first responders and 2,973 people that perished on September 11, 2001 through the Tour of Duty Run.

History of the Tour of Duty Run

The 4,600 mile run was the vision of an Australian firefighter, Paul Ritchie.   A member of the Melbourne Fire Brigade and one of several runners who has been organizing road running events since 1983, Ritchie wanted to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on that tragic day.  As members of the fire service, the Australian firefighters felt the pain of their American counterparts and felt strongly about putting together a tribute run.  Ritchie says, "It's our special way to commemorate all of the people that were taken."

The Tour of Duty Journey

The group left the Santa Monica Pier in California on August 12, 2010.  They were sent off by the California State Firefighters Association 1902 Steamer and the Orange County Fire Authority Pipes and Drums, along with hundreds of supporters.  From there they went to Las Vegas, where they ran along the famed Las Vegas Strip and met with Jerry Lewis, the U.S. Ambassador of the Tour of Duty.

Next the Tour of Duty team ran to Oklahoma City where they laid a wreath at the site of the Oklahoma City Bombing.  North Las Vegas Deputy Fire Chief and Member of the Tour of Duty Board of Directors Kevin Brame explains, "Part of the intent as we go along is to make sure we pay honor all along the way.  So it was a natural thought for us to go to Oklahoma City."

The first responders then ran to New Orleans.  Brame says of that stop, "We just want to let the people in New Orleans that are still hurting from Katrina know that they are not forgotten.  We have a lot of brothers and sisters in the fire service in New Orleans that have been harmed.  So we have a New Orleans firefighter with us as part of paying honor to them and tribute to what they've had to go through."

The Tour of Duty's next overnight stop was in Chicago where they stayed at the Chicago Fire Academy.  From there they ran to Schanksville, Pennsylvania and laid a wreath at the crash site of United Flight 93.  They then went to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where they laid another wreath at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  The Tour of Duty's next stop was in Washington D.C. where they visited the National Law Enforcement Memorial and the Pentagon Memorial.

Altogether the run will have visited 21 states and the District of Columbia.  The Tour of Duty's mission will culminate on September 11, 2001 when they arrive in New York City at the site of the World Trade Center.

The Tour of Duty Runners

The runners are broken up into three groups -  Red, White and Blue teams - with 12 members each.  They run in 6 hour or 45 mile shifts, with twelve hour breaks for each team in between shifts.

The members of Tour of Duty are all wearing a cap very special to one of the runners.  Brian O'Grady, an FDNY firefighter on Ladder 174, explains, "I lost a very good friend of mine, a high school buddy.  STL stands for Sean Thomas Lugano, and I think about the guy everyday.  He was a super guy."

To be selected for the Tour of Duty, first responders had to apply.  Paul Ritchie says of those who were chosen, "They really had to be of sound quality and good athletes.  I believe that everyone has arrived at this run for a reason.  It's a coming together of some really great people."

According to Chief Brame, none of the participants took paid leave or are getting overtime pay for the run.  He says they all used vacation and holiday time and did shift trades with other members of their department in order to be a part of Tour of Duty.

Ben Schmidt, an Australian firefighter with Northern Territory Fire and Rescue, says of his fellow firefighters back home, "The guys on shift wanted to feel like they were a part of the run as well.  They can't all be here.  By them helping me get around here and helping out with shift changes, that's their way of saying, 'Look, we can't be with you but we'd like to be with you, and we are here in spirit.'"

Tour of Duty Sponsors

Many organizations stepped forward to sponsor Tour of Duty.  One of the major sponsors of the run is Pierce Manufacturing.  The fire apparatus manufacturer ensured the runners' safety by donating a brand new Pierce Velocity.  The men and women ran in front of the truck, which provided a block from traffic.

Jayco is another large corporate sponsor.  The RV manufacturer donated seven brand new motor homes to the Tour of Duty, providing the runners with transportation and a place to sleep and spend their time in between shifts.  The company even placed all of the Tour of Duty lettering and graphics on the vehicles as part of their donation.

Charities That Benefit From Tour of Duty and How to Make a Donation

Several other Tour of Duty sponsors provided vehicles, food and money for the run, and donations are being collected online through a Paypal account at www.tourofduty.com.au.  Contributions can also be mailed in or deposited at any Bank of America branch.  Visit the Tour of Duty Website for details.

The donations are being collected through the Tour of Duty Foundation, a registered 501 (c) non-profit organization.  The money raised from Australian donations will go the Australian Burns Units, and the money raised from American donations will be split evenly between the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, the National September 11th Memorial and Museum, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Clinton Bush HaitiFund.

Organizer Paul Ritchie says, "We hope that we send a strong signal out to America and also to the rest of the world that two really great nations can work together and show the great camaraderie that we have."

FDNY Firefighter Paul Grady, puts it simply, echoing the thoughts of all of those who were affected by the events of that terrible day when he says, "Just support us, and please don't ever forget September 11th."