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The sounds of amazing grace played by New York State Environmental Conservation Officer Burdick echoed during the annual 9-11 remembrance ceremony in the Village of Homer yesterday morning.
“We’ve come together today to remember because we will never forget. Today we remember the victims that died on that day 21 years ago and the families, who were forever changed by that event.” Said Village of Homer Fire Department 2nd Assistant Doug VanEtten.
The day marked 21 years since the attack on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the heroic act of passengers on United Flight 93, which later crashed into the ground near Shanksville PA.
For those that remember 9/11, it reflects the memory of when, where, and what you were doing when the news broke of the attack.
For guest speaker at the ceremony John Ryan Jr, he remembered vividly and with emotion of what he was doing when the news broke of the attack. Working on a warehouse dock running freight with his coworkers in the yard on a nice early September day.
“We were thinking it was one of the sightseeing planes and he (a coworker) goes no, it was a passenger jet. And at that moment, I knew firemen were gonna die that day.” John said during the ceremony.
John, who at the time of the attacks was the Village of Homer Fire Department’s Deputy Chief.
At the ceremony was also the unveiling of a memorial sign with all the names of those who died on 9-11 that will be on display for the public at the Homer Fire Station.
Joining the Village of Homer Fire and Police Department was Preble fire department, officers from the Cortland County Sheriff, members of the Homer Boy Scouts Pack 85 and village officials.
