Remembering 9/11: 22 years later
Officials from several communities took the time Monday to look back, reflect and share their thoughts during multiple 9/11 memorial ceremonies.
Wellsville Fire Chief Barry Podwel recapped the events of that day for those gathered at the memorial service in Wellsville at Springhill Cemetery.
“On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2021, our lives changed forever,” Podwel said.
Podwel recalled that at 8:46 a.m., American Airlines flight 11 with 92 people on board crashed into floors 93-99 on the north tower of the world trade center and how at 8:47 a.m., Fire Department New York (FDNY) dispatched to the World Trade Center while Port Authority Police Department officers had immediately begun an evacuation of the towers.
The 77th-85th floors of the south tower were hit at 9:03 a.m. by United Airlines flight 175 which had 65 people on board. Everyone on both flights perished.
The south tower collapsed at 9:58 a.m., followed by the north tower at 10:28 a.m.
There were a total of 2,977 people killed that day — 2,750 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon and 40 in Pennsylvania.
A total of 71 law enforcement officers and 343 firefighters were lost that day.
“There were 75 firehouses in which at least one member was killed. They lost a department, department chief, first deputy commissioner, one marshal and one captain,” Podwel said.
He also noted that for the first time in three decades a total recall occurred as all off-duty firefighters were called out to tackle the incident.
“More than two decades since then, another 306 firefighters have died from diseases they contracted from working the smoking pile of metal, glass and rubble at the site,” Podwel said. “Experts said it’s only a matter of time before the number of fire fighters who succumb to diseases associated with the pile surpasses the death total from Sept. 11, 2001. Engine 54, ladder 4 and battalion 9 in midtown lost 15 members.”
State Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel expressed how she feels the world has turned over many times since that significant day in September 2001.
“We now face new challenges from enemies both here and aboard. Enemies that seek the destruction of everything we hold dear,” Blasdel said. “But to those who wish to destroy our sacred foundation, our message remains the same. It is the same today as it was then. You will not prevail; our values will survive; our nation will grow stronger and our devotion to honoring the memory of those that we remember here today will never waiver.”
Blasdel noted that it has been more than two decades that have passed since the day we now know as 9/11 happened, but yet to many it still feels like yesterday and that many who remember the event can probably see in their minds eye images of smoke billowing from the towers.
“We still remember those feelings of surreal disbelief at what we were witnessing that dark morning, and we still remember being overwhelmed with feelings of dread that the world we knew was gone forever, feelings of standing on the cliff and staring into the depths of an uncertain future,” Blasdel said.
She also noted how every year at this time people stop to remember the horrific events of that day and the victims who lost their lives in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, less than 125 miles from folks gathered in Wellsville to remember.
“Today we remember the first responders who put themselves at risk in a selfless effort and tried to save others, hundreds died rushing into harm’s way, those who survived still bear the physical and mental scars from their ordeal today,” Blasdel said. “We also remember the loved ones left behind, the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers and the sons and daughters of those who we lost on that fateful day.”
In Chester, W.Va., Honor Guard Commander Steve Quinn encouraged those who attended a remembrance service held at the Chester VFW to remember those who were lost and the sacrifices made by many on that fateful day.