"Our feelings ranged from intense anger, to extreme fear, helplessness and overwhelming grief with the knowledge that many of our fellow Firefighters, Emergency Medical Personnel, and Police Officers perished doing a job caused by terrorism. It is almost unbelievable, but we must believe.

However, by nature Firefighters are reactors! No matter what a call or situation brings, we react, just as our brothers and sisters reacted on September 11th in New York City. Dexter Maine is a long way from New York City but just as in any emergency situation, the Dexter Fire Department reacted. On Friday September 14th we set up an account at Skowhegan Savings Bank to deposit donations for the families of those New York City Firefighters who perished at the World Trade Center attack.

Sunday we held a car wash at the Dexter Police Station to raise money for this fund.

Thanks to the many people who passed through that afternoon who donated to have their car washed or just put money in a boot we raised close to $2600. By Tuesday afternoon our account had grown to over $2900.

The DFD will be holding another fundraiser soon. We have donation containers at several businesses around town or you may send your donations to New York City Firefighters c/o Skowhegan Savings Bank, PO Box 193, Dexter Maine 04930.

We, the Members of the Dexter Fire Department, will see that every penny of the money raised will go directly to the families of those fallen Firefighters. If you have any questions about this fund raising please feel free to call Chief Melvin Wyman at (207) 924-0075 or Roger Salley at (207) 924-6245.