Island Fire, EMS, Police, OAPFF join NPS for 9-11 Memorial Tribute at Perry’s Victory
PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio – Local safety service personnel from Put-in-Bay’s volunteer fire department, EMS and police join members of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters (OAPFF) and the National Park Service on the Plaza of Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial on Wednesday at 8:46am in a Memorial tribute to the victims of 9-11.
“It has now been 18 years since the events of 9-11,” said Superintendent Barbara Rowles. “Despite the passage of time we must continue to remember the victims of 9-11, and to support our safety service agencies that wake up each day with our safety in mind.”
Superintendent Rowles said the park will display flags on the Upper Plaza that represent the many countries who lost citizens on September 11, 2001 in the terrorist attacks.
OAPFF President Mike Taylor speaks at the event, as well as representatives from the island’s fire, EMS and police departments. The OAPFF provides a drum and pipe band that will lead the procession from the park’s Visitor Center to the Memorial’s Plaza, Superintendent Rowles said. The organization also provides a wreath placed in the Memorial’s Rotunda.
The procession to the Memorial departs the Visitor Center at 8:46 am, marking the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Nearly 3,000 people died in New York City, Washington, D.C. and near Shanksville, PA, September 11, 2001. Both north and south towers, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 accounted for 2,753 lives lost at the World Trade Center. New York City lost 343 fire fighters, 23 police officers, and 37 Port Authority officers. Another 184 people were killed at the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Forty passengers and crew aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died while trying to regain control of the flight deck; the plane crashed into a field.
Superintendent Rowles said the program will last about 45 minutes; OAPFF performs a Bell Ceremony as part of the remembrance. As the only international peace memorial in the National Park Service, it is fitting to host this ceremony in a place that shares the lessons of peace and which is a constant reminder of what is possible through international cooperation.