The Salem Fire Protection District held a walk/run and a Memorial Service to remember 9/11 21 years later on Saturday.
Deputy Chief Greg Miller coordinated the events.
“You may wonder why small-town Salem has a memorial like this. I was able to go to the Shanksville site a couple of years ago, it’s in the middle of nowhere, an open field, there is nothing around there but the first ones there were the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department. Terrorism could happen anywhere. Think of the Shanksville site. The people on the plane said that’s enough, it ends here. So that’s why we have this memorial.”
Miller says in addition to the 343 firefighters, 71 police officers, and eight EMTs that died in the initial fire and collapse of the twin towers in New York City, another 202 firefighters, and 241 police officers have died as a result of the 9/11 incidents.
Pastor Emil Natier provided the opening prayer noting that 9/11 occurred because evil exists that wants to destroy our country and freedoms. He asked a chaplain who was at Ground Zero multiple times what he should include in a prayer.
“Never forget all the firemen and first responders who saved so many lives. Yet they did this never thinking about their own lives. Never forget those who died serving others.”
The keynote speaker was Salem Mayor Nic Farley whose mother was in the air working as a flight attendant the morning of the attack. He noted the scary time while in class at Kaskaskia College before he could make contact with his mother to make sure she was okay.
“I was lucky. My mom was able to land safely and they grounded all the flights, but many others weren’t so lucky that day. This event is a day of remembrance of the 2,977 lives that were extinguished far too soon on that day. And the many more that have continued to pass away from the events of that day.”
Farley says 21 years may seem like a long time, but for those who lost loved ones, and families, it seems just like yesterday and nothing will ever erase that pain. But for him, it showed America is the home to heroes who run toward danger in order to do what is right. That is the legacy he hopes everyone will remember about the miraculous first responders that day when they rushed into burning buildings to save as many lives as they could. He called 9/11 a day not only to remember and reflect but to celebrate heroes and carry on their legacy and spirit. Farley encouraged everyone as they move forward from today, to carry on that kindness and spirit with their neighbors, noting you never know when you could be a hero for just one person in your community.
Farley also thanked local firefighters, police, and paramedics who have continued to keep our community safe and be the spine of our community that really keeps us together.
Salem Fire Protection District members arrive back at the starting point following Saturday’s walk-run.
