Twenty-three years ago, our nation and world were forever changed in one terrible morning when terrorists attacked our country and killed almost 3,000 civilians and first responders.
As the years pass, it would be easy to let the horrors of that day fade into memory. It’s uncomfortable to re-experience the shocking images we saw, the feelings we had, and the fear that we couldn’t shake in the weeks and months that followed. But the Village of Webster refuses to let that happen.
Once again this year, the Village of Webster hosted a very moving and meaningful September 11th Memorial Ceremony, Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park. Many local and regional politicians and community leaders attended, and several spoke, adding their heartfelt thoughts about the heroism we saw that day and how the events of that day brought us all together in support and in mourning.
Our Village of Webster and West Webster firefighters were very well represented, and some members of the Penfield Volunteer Ambulance Service also attended. The Webster Village Band enhanced the evening with a number of beautiful patriotic musical selections.
I counted about 70 community members in attendance. That’s actually more than in recent years, which was very nice to see. Despite the ceremony being held in the evening, though, I didn’t see any children. It’s strange to think that the events of 9/11 are simply another thing they’ll learn about in their history books. They don’t grasp how much that day fundamentally changed our world, because they don’t know how our world was before. Perhaps that’s WHY they should be there.
And next time you’re in Veterans Memorial Park, make sure to head over to the back corner to see the 9/11 memorial plaque that was installed there many years ago.
Thank you, Village of Webster, for continuing this tradition and reminding us all of the sacrifices made that day.
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(posted 9/12/2024)
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Another well written and thought-provoking piece, Missy. Thank you.
Only 23 years ago our nation was stacked by scurrilous cowards. It was a deceptive and devastating Trojan Horse attack that caught us unaware. Those of a certain age have parents who were members of what Tom Brokaw called the “Greatest Generation”. As they could recall their exact circumstances of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, so members of our generation can recall their experiences on 11 September in exacting detail.
Twenty-three years after Pearl Harbor was the year 1964. Clay beat Liston. The Beatles lead the “British Invasion” and our culture began a tremendous shift. As I listened to my parents’ stories, so today’s children listen to their parents’ recollections of 11 September. Twenty-three years later, our soldiers still ‘take the fight to the enemy’ overseas, to protect us and prevent further bloodshed on American soil, and we are dragged into disputes predating our nation by thousands of years, and not of our making.
Sadly, it seems that every generation must relearn certain things. While dedicated and selfless professionals fight for our safety and protection, we are shopping on-line, blissfully ignorant and feeling remarkably secure.
Another well written and thought-provoking piece, Missy. Thank you.
Only 23 years ago our nation was attacked by scurrilous cowards. It was a deceptive and devastating Trojan Horse attack that caught us unaware. Those of a certain age have parents who were members of what Tom Brokaw called the “Greatest Generation”. As they could recall the exact circumstances of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, so members of our generation can recall 11 September in exacting detail.
23 years after Pearl Harbor was the year 1964. Clay beat Liston. The Beatles lead the “British Invasion” and our culture began a tremendous shift. As I listened to my parents’ stories, so today’s children listen to their parents’ recollections of 11 September. Our soldiers still ‘take the fight to the enemy’ overseas, to protect us and prevent further bloodshed on American soil, and we are dragged into disputes predating our nation by thousands of years, and not of our making.
Sadly, it seems that every generation must relearn certain things. While others fight for our safety and protection, we are shopping on-line, blissfully ignorant and feeling remarkably secure.