3 Band members are preparing for the run of a lifetime!!

Drum Major Liam Flaherty (Rescue 2), Bagpiper Kevin O'Connor (Engine 37) and Snare Drummer James Dowdell (Ladder 174) will be running from LA to NY to remember the first responders that were killed on 9/11. Below is an excerpt from the tour of duty web site. To see all of the info and track the run click here.

The Tour of Duty Run is a journey that will end in New York City, early on the morning of September 11 2010. The fire-fighters and emergency service workers of America and Australia will come together as allies to remember our fallen colleagues, our brothers and sisters, our family.

We run to remember them. First and foremost this is our purpose and intent, to honour their sacrifice, respect their courage, and appreciate their commitment to service and devotion to duty. To remember them and their humanity. We also begin this journey with an understanding that so many people have suffered and are suffering to this day, the survivors, the loved ones left behind, the workers involved in reclaiming the World Trade Centre Site, the families, friends and co workers of the passengers and crews of the American Airlines and United Airlines Flights, the emotional and physical scars of this attack are devastating and potentially far more reaching than we can imagine. It has changed our world, irreversibly, forever.

It is our duty to remember what happened on September 11 and reinforce all that is good about humanity.

We also see the run as an opportunity to acknowledge emergency services globally. Every day on every continent people are giving of their lives, risking their lives so our world can be a safer place. The military, police, fire and medical services represent just some of the people that give of themselves, so others may live a better life, their service can never be underestimated.

Our journey begins on August the 12th, we fill our shoes and start to run from the Santa Monica Pier, Los Angeles at 8.46 a.m., we ask you to share our journey, to remember with us, our family, the people that have suffered and are suffering still, and the people globally that have served and will continue to serve to make our world a better place. Share this run, via the web and if we happen to be anywhere near your ballpark, fill your shoes and share the load, run with us and remember.