Never Forget 5K

FDNY Battalion Chief Orio Palmer reached the 78th floor of the burning South Tower with 50 pounds of gear on his back, found people still alive, and started pulling them out.

Seven minutes later, the entire tower collapsed on him.

It was September 11, 2001.

Palmer was 45.

Chief of FDNY Battalion 7.

A 20-year fire department veteran.

A husband to Debbie.

A father to Dana, Alyssa, and Keith.

At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 slammed into the South Tower.

The impact tore through floors 77 to 85.

People were trapped above it.

Others were lying injured inside the impact zone.

Firefighters started climbing.

Palmer went with them.

An elevator carried him to the 41st floor.

Then the ride ended.

Thirty-seven floors remained.

Palmer started climbing them on foot.

He carried roughly 50 pounds of equipment.

Air tank.

Protective gear.

Tools.

Everything pulling against him.

People were moving down.

Palmer kept moving up.

The South Tower had 110 floors.

The impact zone was still far above.

He kept climbing.

Palmer had spent years training his body.

He ran marathons.

He worked out constantly.

He had completed the New York City Marathon multiple times.

Now none of that training was about fitness.

It was about reaching people before time ran out.

Firefighter Ronald Bucca was climbing too.

Most rescuers were still far below them.

Then Palmer reached the 78th-floor sky lobby.

He was inside the impact zone.

The damage was severe.

People had been waiting there for express elevators when Flight 175 hit nearby.

Some were already d*ad.

Others were badly injured.

Some were still trapped.

Palmer got on the radio.

He reported numerous casualties.

Then he reported something nobody outside could see.

Two isolated pockets of fire.

That was it.

Palmer believed firefighters could knock them down with two hose lines.

He was standing in one of the most dangerous places in America.

His response was still simple.

Get water up.

Put the fire out.

Help the people.

Then Palmer found civilians trapped inside an elevator.

He and the firefighters with him started working to free them.

The clock kept moving.

9:52 a.m.

Palmer was on the 78th floor.

9:58 a.m.

People were being helped out of the elevator.

Palmer stayed.

One minute remained.

He did not know that.

Nobody inside did.

At home, Debbie still had a husband.

Dana, Alyssa, and Keith still had their father.

To them, Orio was not Battalion Chief Palmer.

He was the “Music Man.”

He always had music playing.

He took neighborhood kids fishing.

He played stickball.

He made up ridiculous dances for his daughters.

That was the man standing on the 78th floor trying to get strangers out.

Then 9:59 a.m. arrived.

The South Tower collapsed.

Palmer was still inside.

So was Ronald Bucca.

So were firefighters still climbing toward them.

Palmer d*ed in the collapse.

The FDNY lost 343 members that day.

He was one of them.

But recordings later revealed exactly how far Palmer had made it.

He had reached the impact zone.

He had found victims.

He had assessed the fires.

He had started freeing trapped people.

He was still working.

Still giving instructions.

Still trying to solve the problem.

Then the building disappeared beneath him.

Seven minutes.

That was the time between Orio Palmer reaching the 78th floor and the South Tower collapsing.

Seven minutes to find survivors.

Seven minutes to report the fires.

Seven minutes to free people from an elevator.

Seven minutes before Debbie lost her husband.

Seven minutes before three children lost their father.

FDNY Battalion Chief Orio Palmer spent every one of them trying to get somebody else home.

PICTURES ARE IN!!!!! GO TO REGISTRATION LINK BELOW AND CLICK MENU AND PHOTOS!! ENJOY
https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Covington/NeverForget5kRunWalk

Madi Run Club (MRC) We are so lucky to have this group at our Never Forget Race this past Saturday. One of sponsors but due to my error missed the back of the shirt. We are blessed to have such an awesome group of people supporting the fallen first responders. Couldn’t do it without y’all. Thank you! ❤️❤️

501 Registered!!!!!!!

Keep it going

Sponsors also come in the form of support, and we cannot thank you enough.

More Sponsors supporting a great cause!! Love It

Sponsors are the backbone of events!! We are blessed. Thank you from the bottom of our heart. More to come…..

RACE WEEK IS HERE!!!!!!! The Never Forget 5K is almost here, and there is still time to register. Check out the packet pickup times below and get ready to join us in beautiful downtown Covington this Saturday!!!!!
Link to register:
http://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Covington/NeverForget5kRunWalk

One week away from the 5th Annual Never Forget 5K!

There’s still time to register and join us in beautiful downtown Covington for a day of remembrance, community, and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Link to register:
http://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Covington/NeverForget5kRunWalk