Sacrifices of 9/11 emergency workers lead man to career as Walker firefighter

The sacrifice of emergency workers on 9/11 motivated one local man to become a member of Walker County Fire and Rescue.

Battalion Chief Jim Bulman, speaker at the Walker County Patriot Day service Sept. 10, shared how the sacrifices of emergency services personnel who died that day motivated him to seek his current career and challenged his audience to find a place to serve their community. He joined other local officials, including Walker County Board of Commissioners Chairman Shannon Whitfield and Sheriff Steve Wilson, in speaking at the event, which was attended by dozens of residents.

“What have you done to make the world safer?” he said he asked after 9/11.

Patriot Day honors the victims who had no choice where they would be when the attacks occurred and those who chose to race into danger to aid those in need and paid the ultimate price, speakers said. Bulman has pondered these issues.

Bulman, then a vice president of the subsidiary of a large trucking company, was moved by the images and sounds of 9/11 and the recovery efforts.

He said he watched a TV reporter covering the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center ask for everyone at the scene to be silent

because the reporter heard a noise in the debris. The hush was broken by the sound of a firefighter’s PASS (Personal Alert Safety System) device, indicating the firefighter was no longer moving.

The sounds of 343 firefighters’ activated PASS devices at Ground Zero haunted him and led him, after homeland security training for his logistics job, to seek additional security and emergency training. He eventually received firefighter certification and started working for Walker County Fire Rescue.

Public safety members “hold the line” to protect people against evil, to help those in need and to comfort the dying, he explained. He believes that the fire and police officers who died on 9/11 would urge people today to “Hold the line, brothers and sisters. Hold the line.”

Of the nearly 3,000 people who died Sept. 11, 2001, 415 were emergency workers. Another 26,000 people were injured, and many more have died since then because of illnesses from exposure to the debris, Bulman said.

Catherine Edgemon Members of LaFayette High School’s JROTC program participate Sept. 10 in the Patriot Day service in front of the Walker County Courthouse. For more photos, see page A9.

Catherine Edgemon A member of LaFayette High School’s band plays “Taps” as JROTC students salute the U.S. flag.

Catherine Edgemon From left, Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, LaFayette Fire Services and Emergency Management Director Stacey Meeks and Walker County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jim Bulman place their hands over their hearts for the national anthem. Wilson led the group assembled for the service in prayer, and Meeks made introductory remarks for the service.

Catherine Edgemon Walker County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jim Bulman explains the impact the 9/11 terrorist attacks had on him as Walker County Board of Commissioners Chairman Shannon Whitfield (center) listens. Whitfield read the county’s Patriot Day proclamation during the service.

Contributed Dozens of Walker Countians gathered in front of the Walker County Courthouse for the county’s Patriot Day service.

Catherine Edgemon Todd Noblitt and other members of the Walker County GOP were on hand to offer refreshments to serve a complimentary breakfast to first responders and others prior to the service.

Catherine Edgemon Those attending the Patriot Day service bow their heads in prayer.

Catherine Edgemon Members of LaFayette High School’s chorus sing “God Bless America” as Walker County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jim Bulman looks on.