ARLINGTON – It’s been 17 years but for many first responders the 9-11 terrorist attacks are as fresh as if they happened yesterday.

That is what firefighters at Station 46 hope Post Middle School eighth-graders took away from their visit Tuesday to the Arlington 9-11 memorial at their station.

“This was a huge event for our country, similar to the JFK assassination for my parents’ generation,” acting fire chief Dave Kraski said. “I want the middle schoolers to understand the magnitude of what happened on that day. There were hundreds of firefighters and other first responders who gave their lives so others could live.”

In 2011, four Arlington firefighters traveled to New York to transport back a piece of the World Trade Center. Through community donations, a 9-11 memorial was opened at Station 46 in 2014. Students watched a presentation and were able to touch a piece of the World Trade Center as they listened to stories of what happened that day.

“It was pretty cool that the firefighters entered the buildings to help others escape,” eighth-grader Chris Kurtzer said. “They’re definitely heroes.”

The memorial is open 24 hours a day and is located at 137 N. Macleod in Arlington.