Cape remembers the fallen of 9/11
Those who remember Sept. 11, 2002 recall exactly where they were that day and will never forget when our nation was attacked by terrorists, destroying both towers of the World Trade Center.
Sunday, at City Hall, the Cape Coral fire and police departments and the city held a remembrance ceremony, paying tribute to those who gave their lives trying to save those trapped in the towers while remembering also how the country came together following the attack.
The solemn event started with opening comments from Fire Chief Ryan Lamb before a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. when the first plane hit the towers, with the ringing of a bell to denote the beginning of a moment of silence to Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
Mayor John Gunter, Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, Police Chief Anthony Sizemore and Lamb all talked about that day, where they were and how the nation came together in the aftermath.
“We as a nation will not forget that fateful day. I’m sure we knew where we were on that morning. We will never forget those who lost their lives,” Gunter said. “They were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, family and friends. They were taken from us.”
Ruane lived in New York at the time and remembered calling brothers who worked on Wall Street to make sure they were OK and extended family who were New York City police officers and firefighters.
“The after-events were tragic. I reckon I went to 30 or 40 wakes. What I remember most was how the community came together to assist the people who worked in the aftermath,” Ruane said. “It’s great to see a community that lost so much come together as one and make the best of the situation.”
Sizemore would echo that sentiment when he remembered the following day, and challenged the community to bring back that sense of patriotism and togetherness.
“This Purple Heart city came together after this tragedy and showed the nation how to act,” Sizemore said. “I saw American flags everywhere. Mine is still up 21 years later. The unity we displayed is what put us on the map.”
When the ceremony ended, those in attendance took American flags and planted them on the front lawn outside City Hall, one flag for each of 2,977 deaths attributed to the 9/11 attacks, each bearing the name of a person who died.
Lamb said seeing all those flags put in the ground is something that really makes a statement
“It really hits home when you see 2,977 flags. As we plant those flags in the field, take a moment and read the name on that flag. Know that it’s more than a number,” Lamb said. “It’s a loved one who’s no longer here.”
Jason Turner, a member of the Punishers motorcycle group of retired police officers, said Sept. 11 impacted everyone who remembered that day and that it was important to keep that memory going for those who died and their families.
“Being a police officer at that time and learning of all the men and women in uniform who died that day trying to save civilians was devastating,” Turner said. “On Sept. 12, the whole dynamic of the job changed. We had new security protocols, threats and terrorists on our own soil. Everything we did, we had to make sure the community was safe. We didn’t know who the next target would be.”