OCEAN CITY — At last week’s 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony, Ocean City’s police chief and fire chief pledged their departments’ readiness to put their lives on the line to protect the resort’s citizens. Mayor Jay Gillian asked the audience to consider the hidden scars of those battling mental health issues.
Speaking to a large audience who gathered on and around bleachers set up on Asbury Avenue in front of Fire Department headquarters at Sixth Street, the mayor said he wanted “to address something we don’t always talk about, mental health.
“There are not many people who lived through 9-11 that were not affected in some way. Long after the memorial services ended … there are many people still scarred by that day,” he said. “It’s a reminder about the importance of mental health and helping people whose scars are invisible. I’d like to dedicate this year to mental health and providing resources for everybody in our community.”
Gillian said Ocean City was “founded as a safe haven, a place to escape the city and enjoy life by the sea,” but some things are hard to escape.
“To this day Ocean City remains a happy place for generations of families, but we all know that Ocean City is not immune to the same mental health issues that everybody else experiences,” he said.
The mayor added the city recently formed a group of community leaders “who are committed to improving the mental, physical and emotional well being of our community. We will work to build strong partnerships to provide resources, education and other help.”
The mayor said the city will announce more as plans come together in the coming weeks.
“I’d like to see Ocean City become known as taking care of all its citizens and helping those who are suffering in any way,” he said.
“One of the lasting legacies of 9-11 was the community spirit that came to life in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. The threat helped Americans put away their differences and come together to appreciate all that we have. I ask you to join me this year in helping that cause.”
Remembering and
protecting the resort
Ocean City Police Chief Bill Campbell and Fire Chief Bernard Walker talked about the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 that saw hijacked passenger planes crash into and bring down the World Trade Center — the Twin Towers — and hit the Pentagon as brave passengers forced a fourth plane to crash into a field in Shanksville, Pa.
“It’s hard to believe 23 years have passed since that fateful day,” Campbell said. “For those of us old enough, I bet you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you received word that first one plane followed shortly thereafter by a second plane flew into the Twin Towers, causing mass chaos, casualties, destruction and to forever serve as an indelible remembrance for all the wrong reasons for all of us as Americans.”
He offered a perspective of what that time frame has meant for the OCPD.
“In those 23 years, I’ve got two officers who were 2 years old, three who were 1 year old, one that was 3 months old and two that weren’t born yet” when the terror attacks happened, Campbell said.
“Each year the memory grows a little more distant as department members retire and new members join the ranks of the fire service, law enforcement and emergency medical services,” Walker said. “Many of our personnel were either too young to remember the tragic events or hadn’t been born yet. It’s our responsibility to keep those memories alive and educate the new members and generations of the importance of memorializing the day.”
He and Walker talked of the deadly toll of that day.
“For the brave responders of the FDNY and NYPD and Port Authority officers of New York and New Jersey, that single day was the highest casualty event on U.S. soil for first responders as a total of 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD officers and 37 Port of New York and New Jersey officers were killed,” Campbell said, noting the casualties continue among the first responder volunteers suffering from health problems from being on site in the aftermath.
“It’s important to honor the memory of the 2,977 people who lost their lives on 9-11 due to the terror attacks as well as the memory of first responders who have since passed away due to the exposure to toxic chemicals, smoke and fumes they encountered in the recovery effort,” Walker said.
“The fire service will forever be linked to the tragedy that occurred at Ground Zero on 9-11,” the fire chief added. “The entire world witnessed wave after wave of firefighters entering the towers in the effort to save lives and extinguish the raging fires. This was an extraordinary example of what firefighters, EMTs and police officers trained for and aspire to do on a daily basis.
“Witnessing those brave men and women trying to save lives while faced with tremendous obstacles inspired me personally, in part, to join the fire service,” he said.
“On this solemn occasion I would like to recognize the brave men and women standing before you representing both the police and fire departments … and assure the public no matter what the potential risks, day or night, Ocean City’s first responders are always ready to answer the call and put our lives on the line to protect you,” Campbell said.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff