‘Let our remembering lead us somewhere. Let is lead us toward compassion rather than division, toward understanding rather than fear, toward service rather than selfishness, and toward peace rather than hatred.’ – Rev. David Fish

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Mike Donahue and the Honor Guard provided a dignified presence during the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on Friday on the 25^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 victims in New York City, Washington, DC and rural Shanksville, Pa.

About 9,000 more have died since from illnesses from being exposed to the toxic dust and hazardous air after the World Trade Center towers collapsed in NYC.

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, said the community will never forget the horrific event on Sept. 11, 2001. She said people history, even major events, are often quickly forgotten.

“To many of us gathered today, the events of 25 years ago seem like the happened yesterday,” Johnson told the crowd. Yet, we must remember that a whole generation has been born since those attacks – these are our emerging leaders and it is up to us to ensure the lessons we learned from 9/11 do not fade away to the dustbin of history, but rather are passed on to them.”

Johnson said the terrorists attacks were less than a year after a very contentious presidential election, with George W. Bush defeating Al Gore.

“Many were saying the country was hopelessly divided, a sentiment we hear quite often today,” she said. “Yet, in the aftermath of 9/11, the country came together as never before. When things are at their worst, America is at its best. This is a stark reminder that political identity should always take a back seat to one simple fact: We are all Americans.”

About 20 local firefighters stand together during the remembrance service outside the courthouse.

There were about 200 people in attendance for the half-hour service. That was more than double the number at the service a year ago.

During the Sept. 11 attack, 343 New York City firefighters were killed that day.

David Fish, pastor of the Barre Center Presbyterian Church, shared an opening and closing prayer. Fish was a sergeant in the Army National Guard and spent about two years in New York City after Sept. 11 providing security and assisting in the aftermath of the attacks.

“Lord, help us to never forget,” Fish said. “But let our remembering lead us somewhere. Let is lead us toward compassion rather than division, toward understanding rather than fear, toward service rather than selfishness, and toward peace rather than hatred.

“Give comfort to those who still grieve. Strengthen those who continue to serve others. Watch over our first responders, members of our military, and all who place themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.”

A giant American flag was held up by ladder trucks from Albion and Murray. Traffic was closed on Main Street in between State Street and Park Street for the remembrance service.

These firefighters are pictured by the flag just before the service, which started at 6 p.m.

About 16 law enforcement officers from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and Albion Police Department stand at attention during the service.

There were 72 law enforcement officers killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Justin Niederhofer, director of the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, shared a timeline from 25 years earlier.

On Sept. 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., the North Tower was struck in New York City. At 9:03, a plane hit the South Tower. At 9:37, the Pentagon was struck. At 9:59 p.m., the South Tower fell. At 10:07 a.m., Flight 93 crashed in rural Shanksville, Pa. At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower collapsed.

“We were attacked and wounded beyond belief but not beyond repair,” Niederhofer said.

Sheriff Chris Bourke, back left, led the group in the pledge of allegiance and Scott Schmidt, right, gave the keynote address.

These firefighters are seen between members of the Honor Guard on the courthouse lawn. Orleans County has held a Sept.11 remembrance service every year since 2001.

Scott Schmidt, the Orleans County chief coroner and a funeral director for Mitchell Family Cremations and Funerals, speaks during the service. He spent nearly three weeks with the federal DMORT team after 9/11 and assisted in collecting and identifying remains, and interviewing family members searching for loved ones.

He left for New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was there for 20 days, including a week at Ground Zero. He noted the death toll continues to grow as more people die each year from their exposure to particulates while working at or near Ground Zero or from when then were fleeing the site where two skyscrapers collapsed.

“A 25-year remembrance is also known as a Silver Jubilee,” Schmidt said. “Silver is a precious metal, one worth saving and protecting. Much like the freedoms that our fore-fathers dictated to the world 250 years ago, the Declaration of Independence was created to save us from ruling powers of the kingdom of Great Britain. It was penned to provide freedoms and rights to the people of the United States. Among those rights were life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those rights and freedoms which we all enjoy today, much like silver metal, are worth protecting.”

Schmidt said the group gathers to remember the 2,997 civilians and first responders killed on Sept. 11 after terrorists turned four commercial airplanes into “flying bombs of death and destruction.”

“Today we mourn for their families who will forever have an empty seat at the table and a vacant and void space when they reach out to hug their loved one,” he said. “We hope and pray this day and all days, that all the people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 or in the days and year following due to related illnesses, we hope and pray that they have received the greatest reward from whatever or whomever their God happens to be.”

Brad Nudd plays Taps near the end of the service. He is on the steps of the County Clerks’ Building.

Doug Egling played “America the Beautiful” with the crowd then singing, “God Bless America.”