It was a day, 25 years ago, that no one of age will ever forget. Everyone remembers exactly where they were the minute they learned the first terrorist-hijacked passenger jet hit the first World Trade Center twin tower.
On Friday, in Franklin, Macon County citizens of all ages joined law enforcement, pastors, veterans, and community leaders to remember the innocent victims, honor the first responders who ran into the flames and destruction to save lives, and pray for the nation.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers often focused on the bravery of the first responders, the senseless tragic loss of life by the terrorist attack, and the response of the nation to unite.
“Through this moment, we also remember the unity our nation showed in the days after,” said Danny Antoine, a county commissioner and volunteer chaplain for first responders. “When differences seemed smaller, neighbors stood beside neighbors. And, Americans came together with a shared sense of strength and purpose.”
Some notables in the crowd included Franklin Mayor Stacy Guffey, Franklin Planning Board member Janet Greene, and Steve Crabtree, owner of the Crabtree General Store and member of the Franklin Tourism Development Authority.
Long Island emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter Betty Poulos (above) shared her memories of 9/11 and how nearby communities responded to assist New York’s emergency management teams. She honored the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives for the innocent victims targeted by terrorists. “Although 25 years have passed, I’ll remember that time as if it was yesterday.”
Pastor Bonnie Peggs, a chaplain for first responders (above), said, “People sometimes ask me, ‘Pastor, where was God on September 11?’ I understand that question. I’ve asked it myself, and here’s what I believe. God was in the stairwells (with first responders) going up. God was in the hands of the chaplain who ministered to the fallen and the casserole that was left on the doorstep of grieving families for months afterward.”
Representing SCC, Curtis Dowdle said the beams (above) were a part of the school’s “sacred promise” to never forget.
He said, men and women are training at SCC to be police officers, paramedics and public safety professionals. And as they remember the men and women to ran into danger that day, “these artifacts will remind our students that public safety training is not just about physical conditioning, tactics, or technical skills. It’s about character. It’s about a moral commitment to run towards the sound of trouble. To stand strong when others falter. To honor the ultimate sacrifice made by the 343 firefighters, the 71 law enforcement officers, the countless military personnel, and the paramedics who were all murdered on 9/11.”
He concluded, “These artifacts stand for freedom. They stand for resilience, and above all, testament to how we honor those who were brutally taken from us on that fateful day.”
A special thanks to Dave Linn and George Young for assistance in organizing the event and providing the sound system.
