As everyone is aware, Sunday is the 10 year anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attacks in history on American soil. It is the 10 year anniversary of our world changing forever. Prior to those planes being hijacked, terrorism was something that happened overseas, it did not happen in America. September 11th was a day we lost our innocence. It was also a day that our nation united in mourning and resolve.
September 11th is now known as a day of remembrance.
September 11th is now known as a day of remembrance.
Remembrance Day is when we honor all of those who lost their lives that day including the 343 FDNY Firefighters, 23 NYPD Police Officers and 37 Port Authority Police who perished in the World Trade Center. It is when we remember those on the 4 planes who lost their lives as innocent hostages in this insidious act of terror. It is when we remember the lives 125 lost when a Boeing 767 flew broadside into the Pentagon.
Osama bin Laden's intent was to bring our nation to its knees. Instead we saw heroes emerge and a nation resolved to defeat those who did this. As Admiral Yamamoto proclaimed following Pearl Harbor "I fear we have awoken a sleeping giant". The Spirit that was awoken that day still lives in many parts of our Nation today.
Osama bin Laden's intent was to bring our nation to its knees. Instead we saw heroes emerge and a nation resolved to defeat those who did this. As Admiral Yamamoto proclaimed following Pearl Harbor "I fear we have awoken a sleeping giant". The Spirit that was awoken that day still lives in many parts of our Nation today.
Later this month a group of Fire Fighters from Valley Regional Fire Authority will be traveling back to New York City to participate in the “Steven Siller – Follow the Footsteps” or “Tunnel to Towers run”. I was proud to travel with them a few years back and this year Mayor Dave Hill from Algona and City Council Member John Partridge of Auburn will go back. Steven Siller was a FDNY Firefighter who was off shift and driving through Brooklyn to go golfing with his brother Frank. When the planes hit, he turned around and was able to get as close as the Battery Tunnel in Brooklyn before traffic and roadblocks prohibited him from going further. He parked his car on the side of his road, grabbed his gear from the truck of his car and ran from Brooklyn to the WTC site. He was one of the 343 FDNY members who perished that day. The Tunnel to Towers run honors his memory as well as all those who lost their lives by raising funds for charity.
Every year on the Anniversary of these attacks a group of responders from New York have traveled to other parts of the country devastated by a disaster and have donated their services to help others rebuild their lives. They do this out of thank you for all of the volunteers who went to New York to assist and all of those who helped in so many other ways. Since 2002 many others have joined them each year including many who were victims of other disasters.
No matter how you wish to remember 9-11-01 or choose to honor those who lost their lives this Sunday please do this. Remember how our Nation was changed that day and the selfless acts that occurred that day and since. Remember all of those who serve now as Fire Fighters and Police Officers. Remember all of those who serve us now in military service. Remember all of those who selflessly work to find how they can make a difference in the lives of others. This is the best way to honor those who lost their lives that day
PS - Anyone who wishes to join me our Nation's flag will be lowered at Precisely 5:45 AM Pacific Time in front of VRFA Station 38. This is the time that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
At 9:30 AM many of us will gather at the Auburn International Farmers Market for a ceremony that will culminate with a moment of silence and a ringing of the bell at 10:00.