NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Thursday marks 24 years since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Luzerne County Community College held a ceremony Thursday morning to reflect and remember the events that happened on September 11, 2001.
The ceremony remembered the nearly three thousand lives lost on September 11, 2001.The ceremony included a flag ceremony, the national anthem, pledge of allegiance, an invocation and benediction, and a final alarm ceremony.
Several dignitaries and local fire companies were on hand to pay their respects 24 years later.Luzerne County Council Chairman John Lombardo was the keynote speaker.
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"As a first responder in my full-time career, I think it's really important to honor the people who came before us and especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and there is no better example of that than what the heroism of the 343 firefighters that passed away on 9/11 did," Lombardo told 28/22 News.
Lombardo lost an uncle, firefighter John Lombardo, in a fire in 1993. He says the sacrifices made on September 11 set an example for first responders like himself.
"Those guys were so brave and did such an amazing job with the horrible hand that they had been dealt that day. And for us as first responders elsewhere, we take a lot of those examples with us as we go throughout our lives, day-to-day in our jobs," Lombardo continued.
Tyler Suiters is a Navy veteran and now attends the college. He spoke today to help educate the next generation who weren't around during that time, and encourage all of us to never forget.
"The generation that is among us in the world now, they're not familiar with some of the things that people actually went through during 9-11. I felt like it was important to remind people that history isn't just history for some people. They've lived it," Suiters said.
"Where will you be when your neighbor needs your help? Where will you be when a child cries for comfort? Where will you be when the addict puts down the bottle or the bong, or needle, or pill, or computer and looks for companionship? Where will we be as a community of life and mutual respect when the world looks to us for hope?" said Father Brian Van Fossen in the ceremony.
The ceremony also honors the newest inductees to the college's walk of honor: Becky Brominski, Leroy Conduff, Joe Earley, Samantha and Joseph Macareo, Luanne Russin, Cathy Shulna, Eric W. Wassel Esq., Ann Marie Schraeder, W. Brooke Yeager and Joel Kislin, Teddi Janosov, and Walter D. Sokolowski.
