By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
SEAVILLE – After rains earlier in the morning Friday, Sept. 11, the cloud cover slowly broke in time for some sun to shine down at Osprey Point, where local residents and visiting dignitaries marked a solemn occasion – the 19th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.
James Joyce presided over the ceremony to remember the civilians in the twin towers of the World Trade Center, those who died at the Pentagon and in a field in Shanksville, Pa., along with the firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel who valiantly saved many lives and died trying to save more.
The nearly 3,000 Americans who died were victims of terrorists, almost all from Saudi Arabia, who hijacked four airliners and turned those planes into bombs that hit and collapsed the towers and damaged the Pentagon. The fourth went down in rural Pennsylvania after passengers, who learned of the other attacks, fought back and tried to wrest control of the airliner from the terrorists.
Upper Township Mayor Rich Palombo said when the terror attacks happened 19 years ago, he was in his second term as mayor. The decision he had to make “was to allow many of the folks who are standing here to go to New York City to help out in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center,” he said, gesturing toward the gathered firefighters and EMTs attending the ceremony. “It was a tough decision and I know there are several members who have continued to serve this community … so I think they deserve a round of applause.”
A large round of applause ensued.
The mayor read a resolution by the Township Committee that said, in part, “thousands of innocent people were killed and injured as a result of these reprehensible attacks. Countless fire departments, police departments, first responders, and emergency medical personnel and volunteers responded heroically to those horrific events. Nineteen years later, the men and women in the United States armed forces continue to defend and protect the United States of America against those who seek to threaten her people.
“… on the 19th anniversary of that tragic day, the thoughts of the citizens of Upper Township are with all the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, and their families.” It was resolved to “observe the anniversary to honor the innocent victims and the heroic actions of those who rushed to help and those who continue to fight for the freedom of this nation.”
Marmora Fire Company Chief Jay Newman said the tragedy puts a spotlight on police, firefighters and EMS workers.
“We appreciate that. It also shows our sense of service. In Upper Township, you have some people who want to serve and serve us well. Whether they serve on a volunteer basis or paid basis, they still honestly serve the people of Upper Township,” Newman said. He noted that most of the children who are seniors in high school today weren’t even born when the nation was attacked. The chief made a point of noting the men and women in the Upper Township fire companies and EMS services who have served, are serving, or about to serve in the armed forces.
“There are many individuals in this township who are not only willing to serve as first responders but also their country as men and women of the armed forces,” Newman said. He also thanked the governing body of the township for consistently supporting the first responders.
State Assemblyman Antwan McClellan thanked all of the veterans and first responders and presented a state proclamation to the Osprey Point community for the annual commemoration.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew also presented a proclamation to the community, and noted how the events of Sept. 11 demonstrated something important.
“The nation we saw on 9/11, that nation is the nation that in many ways we emulate. Out of the greatest tragedy we’ve ever had on our soil we saw amazing heroism,” Van Drew said, noting the 2,996 individuals who died and many more who assisted – “hand in hand, firefighters, EMTs, polilce, Black folks, white folks, Asian folks, every race, every color, every creed, we were together as Americans.”
“Citizens from around our country came together,” he said. “There were no New Jerseyans or Californians or Michiganians, or Floridians, just Americans. Americans loved their fellow Americans.”
And the first responders who went back into the World Trade Center’s towers to save lives at the risk of their own, he said, are the kind of people Americans should aspire to be. That’s the America I know,” he said.
Randi Scheck, president of Ocean City – Upper Township Rotary Club, was the invited guest speaker. She talked about Rotary Club, which believes in “service above self.”
“This to me and my Rotary Club is how we can remember the ones who lost their lives on this tragic day and honor them by being wonderful Americans and being great human beings and doing the right things in this country and in our communities,” she said.
She noted how the Rotary Club hasn’t been well known because for the longest time it was a small group of people “who didn’t want anyone to know that they were doing good things for others.”
“As we move forward today, we want people to know what we’re doing for communities all over the world,” Scheck said, noting Rotary is an international organization comprised of more than 1.2 million people who put service above self.
Rotary Club members and other citizens may not be the first responders being honored at the ceremony, but they can all do their part by helping people in need, even in the smallest things, she said.
