Fredonians recall unity, patriotism after attacks
OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford A trumpeter plays “Taps” as Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson stands at attention during Fredonia's annual service to remember the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
A firefighter rings a bell to honor first responders killed in the events of Sept. 11, 2001, during Fredonia's annual gathering to remember the day.
OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford A trumpeter plays “Taps” as Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson stands at attention during Fredonia's annual service to remember the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
A firefighter rings a bell to honor first responders killed in the events of Sept. 11, 2001, during Fredonia's annual gathering to remember the day.
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Speakers at Fredonia’s service Friday remembering the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks asked Americans to revisit the unity, strength, patriotism and service they found immediately after that day.
Fredonia Fire Chief Joshua Myers opened the service, held at fire department headquarters on Main Street.
"25 years ago today, this country watched ordinary people become extraordinary," he said. Firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians "ran into danger and never came back."
Myers honored the 343 Fire Department of New York dead, and also firefighters "who drove through the night" to assist at Ground Zero in New York, including Fredonia firefighters.
"Strangers called strangers...for a while we were better versions of oneself," Myers said. "That’s what I want to stay with us." While grief is a takeaway from 9/11, the national attitude after the attacks is also important to remember and emulate, he said.
Mayor Michael Ferguson got a little emotional in opening with thanks to Fredonia first responders for recently saving two children from drowning, and helping to save two more kids from a burning building.
He went on to recall the utter confusion of 25 years ago after the first plane hit the World Trade Center, but before the complex was attacked by a second plane.
"Nobody knew what was really going on," the mayor pointed out.
"The world came to a stop... the strongest of men and strongest of women became weak. I dropped to my knees and asked God what to do" with my wife and kids, Ferguson continued. However, he said, while first responders were certainly worried about their own families, they shrugged it off and kept doing their jobs.
"By the end of the day, we were OK. But our world changed forever," Ferguson said. However, "as the chief said, the next day, we were the people we wanted to be." Politics and religion didn't matter, "nothing else mattered than coming together here in the United States."
The other speakers at Fredonia's 9/11 remembrance event were Bob Sayers, a Fredonia firefighter since 1976, and Chaplain Robert Hayward.
Sayers went to Ground Zero and commented that "It’s hard to believe 25 years have gone by. It’s hard to believe the memories that linger." He mentioned the personal stories he heard -- and the noxious smell.
Hayward asked everyone to remember how every U.S. senator stood together on the steps of the Capitol building in Washington in the aftermath of the attacks. "No partisans, just patriots."
He declared, "We are not only going to remember the attack, but the awesome outpouring of patriotism that followed."
The remembrance event closed with the ceremonial ringing of a bell to honor the fallen of Sept.11, 2001; the playing of "Taps" by a trumpeter; and a prayer by Hayward.