OCEAN CITY – Ocean City commemorated the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks with a ceremony during which officials asked for unity and said Americans should never forget the sacrifices made that fateful day.
The guest speaker last Thursday spoke of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. It is an organization that arose in the aftermath to help the families of the fallen and so far has raised more than $1 billion in an effort of support that has gone far beyond.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian, in talking about some of the individuals and organizations that do good in the community, said adults must educate the children on what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, to honor those who don’t think twice about running toward the danger.
He also called for unity after a dreadful week that saw a conservative activist murdered in front of a crowd of college students.
“We always need to come together as a community no matter what the situation is,” he said.
“Nothing is better than when we all work together,” Gillian said. “Stop hating” and “treat everyone with respect.”
Ocean City Police Chief Bill Campbell said it is hard to believe it has been 24 years since that day when terrorists attacked the United States with hijacked airplanes that were crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and a fourth that was forced down in a field in Pennsylvania when passengers rebelled.
He noted how Americans all came together after the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent lives and changed this country forever.
He gave the sobering statistics of how the dead included 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers and 55 military personnel – “heroes who rushed toward danger when others ran away. Their courage and sacrifice remind us of the very best of humanity, even in the face of the worst evil.”
Campbell said 9/11 isn’t just about loss, but about resilience.
“In the days and weeks that followed, we saw Americans come together in ways that transcended differences, strangers held each other up. Communities prayed together, rebuilt together and vowed to never forget together,” the chief said. “That unity is something we must continue to carry forward, not only today, but every day.”
He also called on remembering the families of the fallen “and the survivors who live with the pain of that day.”
“Their strength in the face of grief is a lesson in perseverance and hope. To them we say, ‘We will never forget your loved ones for the price that was paid,’” Campbell said. “As we pause in silence, let us commit ourselves to living lives of service, compassion and unity.
Let us honor the memory of the fallen and not only with our words, but with our actions. May we never forget their sacrifice, and may we always strive to be worthy of it.”
Ocean City Fire Chief Bernard F. Walker noted the big turnout in front of the Fifth Street Fire Department Headquarters, the large crowd that gathered on the sunny and warm September evening. “It’s representative of this wonderful community that we live in, that we serve,” he said.
Walker said it was important to remember not only the lives lost that day, but that of the many first responders who have since passed away after working in the toxic environment of Ground Zero’s aftermath, facing chemicals, smoke and fumes.
Walker said the fire service will always be linked to the tragedy because of the sheer number of personnel lost that day along with police, military and about 2,500 civilians.
“Let’s continue to carry forward the legacy of those we lost on 9/11, as well as all those lost in the line of duty, not only in words, but just as Chief Campbell said, but in action,” he said. “Let us live with courage, serve with compassion, and never forget the sacrifices that were made.”
Tunnels to Towers
The guest speaker at the ceremony was retired Capt. Gerard Lynch of the Bloomfield Fire Department and an ambassador for the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).
Lynch explained that the foundation was named because of Brooklyn-based firefighter Steven Siller, who was off-duty on 9/11 and planning to golf with his brothers on Staten Island. When he got word about a plane hitting the World Trade Center North Tower, he got his 60 pounds of gear and raced to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to join his squad, only to find it already closed for security. Undeterred, he put on the gear and ran through the tunnel to the Twin Towers to join the other firefighters. He died in the course of saving others.
Siller’s family decided to start a charity, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, and had a 5K run retracing Siller’s steps.
The initial goal was to raise enough money to pay off the mortgages for any of the surviving spouses of the first responders killed in the line of duty. It was later expanded to families of the military.
They made it a goal to pay off those mortgages within seven days. “I’m proud to say the average is within 48 hours,” Lynch said.
The role of the foundation expanded again from there, he added.
They began building mortgage-free smart homes for catastrophically injured first responders and military members, and retrofitting homes to be smart homes designed to cater to their needs.
Lynch said the foundation has the 9/11 Institute, for which he is part of the Education Foundation as an ambassador. It provides curriculum for schools to teach children about 9/11. There is a Never Forget 9/11 Exhibit on an 18-wheeler that travels the country to educate citizens about the terror attacks that day.
He said one of his favorite projects is the building of 100 homes in what’s called “Let Us Do Good Village” in Clearwater, Fla., an effort designed for those faced with special needs, such as wheelchair accessibility.
In addition, Lynch said, the foundation has made a pact to eradicate homelessness among veterans and so far has made that come true for 10,000 veterans. “They don’t just give them a hot and a cot,” he said, referring to a meal and temporary shelter. If needed, they help the veterans with addiction and PTSD therapy and job training.
The retired firefighter said on Sept. 28, he plans to do the 5K run with his two sons and daughter for the first time. He said he learned that 67 children of the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11 are now New York City firefighters themselves.
Michael Allegretto, aide to the mayor, provided the welcome and introductions. The Rev. John E. Jamieson provided the invocation and the Rev. David McGettigan the benediction. They are the chaplains of the fire and police departments, respectively.
Firefighter Kyle Wagner and Patrolman Ryan Lutz laid the wreath at the 9/11 memorial as bagpiper Thomas H. Moore played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Jack Hagan and Pat Cummings returned the American flag to full staff and former Miss Ocean City Taylor Mulford, a senior at Ocean City High School, sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
