SEAVILLE – It was overcast and cool and breezy as Upper Township set aside time Sunday morning for a quiet but poignant ceremony to honor and remember the victims of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the Patriot Day Service at Sgt. William R. Godfrey Memorial Park at Osprey Point, master of ceremonies James Joyce reminded the audience gathered outside around a flagpole flying the Stars and Stripes of the toll that fateful day in U.S. history.
Terrorists hijacked four airliners, crashed two into the World Trade Center’s twin towers and a third into the Pentagon. A fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers rebelled.
“We’re remembering and honoring at the victims of the 9/11 attacks,” Joyce said.
“We remember and honor the 2,763 victims killed and 600 injured during the World Trade Center attack.
“We remember and honor the 343 firefighters and 60 police officers and emergency service personnel who perished in their attempts to rescue the occupants in the Twin Towers.
“We remember and honor the 189 victims of the Pentagon attack.
“We remember and honor 265 victims on the four planes hijacked.
“We remember and honor the 204 New York City firefighters and 241 New York City police officers who died from 9/11 related illnesses.
“We remember and honor 10,000 victims still to this day suffering effects from the attacks.
“We also remember all the military people who died in the following wars caused by the attacks.
“It is our duty to ensure our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren remember the day, Sept. 11, 2001,” Joyce said.
Ocean City High School senior Ava DiBabbo sang the “Star Spangled Banner” after everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.The Upper Township teen is a member of the choir, drama club and National Honor Society.
John Newman offered the invocation, asking everyone to remember the day and to pray for those affected “by that terrible day.”
A flag honoring Vietnam veteran Marine Lance Cpl. William P. Lynam was presented to the Osprey Point community. His widow, Eileen, was in the audience.
Keynote: Believe in American exceptionalism
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) was the keynote speaker. He talked about the importance of believing in and respecting American exceptionalism.
“We live in a time, unfortunately, when there are many who demean, diminish and want to defund our police. People who don’t respect our first responders, don’t respect Americanism, exceptionalism,” he said.
“America is an exceptional nation. It is the best nation that has ever been seen on the face of the Earth. Don’t let anybody ever tell you otherwise,” he said.
“Don’t be afraid to stand up on both feet when pledging allegiance to the flag.” Noting how some athletes take a knee in protest, he said the only time to take a knee is for prayer.
When he looks at the flag, he said he sees faces – the men and women who ran into the building who knew they were going to die, but still did their job.
He sees the American heroes who died in Shanksville, Pa., forcing down a hijacked plane and sacrificing their lives so other Americans wouldn’t be killed; the people who brought their private boats to ferry people away from the wreckage of the towers; and of the ordinary citizens who did extraordinary things, such as James Crawford, a man in his 20s who kept going back into the buildings to save lives knowing he could lose his life.
Van Drew talked about the unity after the 9/11 attacks.
“I see the people who came from all over the country. We didn’t have Californians and New Yorkers and New Jerseyans and Pennsylvanians. We had Americans who believed in a strong America. Who believed in this magnificent country … the most unique experiment in human history and that we should never give it up,” he said.
He said when people tell him America isn’t special, that it’s the same as any other place, it’s all one global community, that yes, it is part of the global community but America is a leader “and I am proud to say that America is No. 1.”
He said “at this time of great challenge in America” to remember all the flags flying on homes and how after 9/11 flag stickers appeared on vehicles everywhere.
“We don’t have to agree on every single thing,” Van Drew said, but people should agree America is a great nation.
The attacks of 9/11 “taught us that America has to be strong,” he said. “We have to believe in America.”
Mark Pancoast: Find three positive things
Upper Township Committeeman Mark Pancoast was the other speaker for the Patriot Day Service. His message was about finding the positive.
“As we gather here today to remember Sept. 11, 2001, surrounded by our family and friends and this beautiful American flag, we’re reminded that one of the worst days in American history saw some of the bravest acts in American history,” Pancoast said.
There were 2,977 people killed that day, 71 of them law enforcement officers, 55 military personnel, and 343 firefighters. Out of the 343 firefighters, the average age was 39 years old, he said. “Just 39 years old. Lives that were cut short in the prime of raising a family, getting that job promotion or dropping the kids off at their grandma’s.”
Pancoast said he has had “the privilege of attending these services for many years, not only as an American citizen but also as a police officer. After each of the these ceremonies, I would try to take away three positive things from that day’s keynote speakers.”
There were his top three.
No. 1: When American citizens lend a hand to one another, nothing is impossible.
No. 2: Take that extra minute in a day to thank someone, tell your significant other that you love them because you never know if it’s your last day on Earth or theirs.
No. 3: Take nothing for granted. As you leave here today, take away a positive and maybe start a new trend.
With fellow Township Committee member Kimberly Hayes present at the ceremony, Pancoast offered a proclamation from the Upper Township Committee and Township of Upper remembering the 21st anniversary of 9/11.
Tuckahoe Fire Department Deputy Chief Ken Sharp laid the wreath honoring the fallen of Sept. 11, 2001.
Along with Sharp and his Tuckahoe colleagues, Upper Township’s other companies were represented with leaders including Chief Steven Schaffer of the Seaville Volunteer Fire Department, Capt. Endicott of the Marmora Volunteer Fire Department and Chief Melissa Coker of the Upper Township Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Squad.
DiBabbo closed the ceremony singing “God Bless America.” The people gathered for the service joined in.