COLUMBUS, Ohio – Half a dozen cities in the Central Ohio area held ceremonies remembering 9-11 on Wednesday. Columbus had three opportunities for residents to attend and reflect upon the eighteen years since the September 11, 2001 attack.
At noon, Columbus Police, Fire and city officials hosted an event at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Some of the speakers at the event were Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce, Police Chief Thomas Quinlan and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin.
“The real tragedy as we take part in this celebration and remembrance and memorial, is if we didn’t go forward with a renewed sense of dedication every day for those who are on the front line for all of us,” expressed Boyce. “To our friends in Dayton, to our friends all across the country, the call to action is now once again, that together we are stronger than we are divided. And that’s the true American spirit. That’s the Franklin County and Central Ohio Spirit.”
Down the street from the National Veteran’s Memorial, the Ohio Statehouse had 2,977 flags arrayed on the grounds in honor of those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania.
The sign read,
9/11 Memorial
Honoring our heroes of September 11, 2001.”
It ended with,
We shall never forget our heroes, their families and friends. Their sacrifice is unprecedented in our nation’s history and hopefully we never be repeated.”
North of downtown, The Ohio State University (OSU) was setting up their own field of flags. NBC4 reported that a current OSU student had lost her mother on that fateful day.
“‘I just want to honor the families that have been affected, because I know the pain and I know the grief that they go through,’ said The Ohio State University student Amanda Trerotola, who was 3-years-old on 9/11 when her mother was killed in the World Trade Center.”
Northeast of Columbus, the city of Westerville held their ceremony in the bay of Station 111. Normally it would be held in First Responders’ Park, but the park is under construction. It is growing to incorporate recognition of two fallen police officers, Eric Joering and Tony Morelli.
The existing memorial is currently dedicated to Dave Theisen, a firefighter who gave his life in the line of duty in 1998, and to the heroes and victims of 9-11, memorialized with a twisted steel beam from the north tower of the World Trade Center.
The Dispatch reported several additional events planned for Patriots’ Day.
Groveport recognized the tragedy at Motts Military Museum at 7:30 am.
Marysville held their event at 9:50 in the morning at the Marysville Fire Division and they posted a tribute on their Facebook page.
Worthington’s ceremony was at noon, and their shared a simple but poignant message, “Patriot Day 2019 #neverforget”
At 7:00pm two final events wrapped up the emotional day: Hilliard’s service was at their First Responders’ Park at the same time that the Aladdin Shrine Pipes and Drums were playing at Quaker Steak and Lube at Polaris.
#NeverForget
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