Anne McGee knew a lot of Cobb County firefighters before Sept. 11, 2001.
She was working two jobs back then, one at Sears in Cumberland Mall and the other at a local Publix -- where several firefighters and police officers shopped.
But after America’s deadliest terror attack 19 years ago, McGee knew she needed to do more to show her appreciation to support her local first responders.
Every Sept. 11 since, McGee has delivered homemade cookies, ice cream and other goodies to the firefighters at stations three and four. No one on any of the 24-hour shifts is left out.
“My husband and I had two daughters, but I have 63 sons,” said McGee, 78. “I always tell people, if you need a hobby, adopt a fire station. Firefighters are the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet. They do everything: They counsel, they fight fires, everything.”
“I knew about Miss Anne even before I came to station four,” said firefighter Casey Moates. “She would ask everyone around her neighborhood to come by for her August ice cream social. She came by on ordinary days just to bring us doughnuts."
Moates transferred to Cobb County to help build the county’s large-scale, heavy-rescue response team.
“September 11 spurred us to develop training for a large collapse, disaster-type scenario,” Moates said. “We were really empowered by this urge to help.”
Cobb County Fire Lt. Rob Hiller was also on duty when the terror attacks occurred. The following year, he remembered “Miss Anne” bringing by red, white and blue memorial ribbons to pin onto firefighters' shirts.
“She’s done that as long as I can remember,” Hiller said.
McGee was laid off from Sears not long ago but realized she couldn’t stay home and inactive. She now works at a Chick-fil-A and is already laying the groundwork to deliver her annual gift of homemade delicacies.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but I love it,” she said. “I have 19 years of pictures, 19 years of memories ... and who knows how many grandchildren.”
