Community Military Appreciation Committee and the City of Vancouver held a Patriot Day Salute outside City Hall on Wednesday, marking 23 years since the Sept. 11 attacks
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
The mayor of Vancouver asked people to make a positive difference in the world.
The chief of police shared a personal, family story to recognize service.
The deputy fire chief recalled a reality check, and how the community lifted his spirits.
They all spoke Wednesday morning at the Patriot Day Salute, as the city of Vancouver teamed up with the Community Military Appreciation Committee to hold an event recognizing the sacrifices made on Sept. 11, 2001 as well as the sacrifices made by the military in the years since the terrorist attacks.
“For all of us still breathing 23 years later, this is a time we will not forget,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.
She paid tribute to the firefighters and law enforcement who died that day, as well as the military members who gave the ultimate sacrifice, as well.
She also gave advice on how we can can continue to salute them.
“Let us take this opportunity to remember how each one of us can make a difference in the world, can make a difference in the lives of our friends and neighbors,” McEnerny-Ogle said. “Find little things that will make your life better and add to someone else’s.”
Jeff Mori, the Vancouver Police Chief who is retiring in October, remembered that day 23 years ago. His wife was taking their school-age children to school while he was home with their youngest daughter. He called his wife when he saw the images on TV.
“Our lives will be forever changed,” he told her in that conversation.
Sixteen years later, in 2017, their two sons were serving together in Afghanistan.
This is why ceremonies such as the one in Vancouver on Wednesday morning are so important, he said. He noted that we cannot forget the tragic day, the immediate response, and the long-term ramifications. That one day led to 20 years of war in Afghanistan.
“I want everyone here to know I am not ready nor will I ever be ready to move on from this event,” Mori said of the ceremony to honor those affected by Sept. 11.
This will be his final Sept. 11 ceremony as chief of police.
“I want everyone here to know (that) serving as your police chief has been my highest professional honor,” Mori said.
Vancouver Deputy Fire Chief Tony Fletcher went through so many emotions in 24 to 48 hours.
Sept. 11, 2001 gave him a “reality check.”
“For the first time in my life, I felt our country was vulnerable,” he said. “How could these attacks be carried out? How could this take place? What kind of evil is in people to make something like this happen?”
He noted the awful feeling of helplessness, watching the events unfold on his TV.
He was a young firefighter at the time, working in Vancouver, and until that event, he loved going to work every day. He had always been enthusiastic about the next shift
But his next shift happened to be Sept. 12, 2001.
“For the first time I wasn’t excited to go to work,” he acknowledged.
And then …
“When I arrived … my heart was lifted right away. My fire station was plastered with posters made from citizens from our own community. Our citizens came to express sorrow for our loss and thanked us for our service, even though we were 3,000 miles away.”
So many delivered baked goods over the following weeks that Fletcher joked that he and his colleagues gained 20 pounds.
“The outpouring of patriotism was everywhere,” Fletcher said. “This country was unified in grief and in loss, but also unified in healing.”
Following the words from guest speakers, CMAC and city officials accepted a wreath in honor of those who died. A firefighter rang a bell nine times, to represent the final alarm for the firefighters who died that day. There was a rifle salute from the VFW Post 7824 Honor Guard, along with the playing of Taps. Amazing Grace was performed on the bagpipes. And doves were released.
Peter Schrater, the chaplain for Vancouver Fire, shared a quote from the late Christopher Reeve, the actor famous for playing Superman who also showed courage after suffering a spinal cord injury.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
Schrater also prayed for unity in our country.
