PLYMOUTH, N.H.-A somber yet stirring 10-year anniversary tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attack on the United States was held Sunday, September 11, on the Plymouth Town Common. The ceremony featured contingents from local fire and police departments, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and PSU and town officials.
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| PSU police officer salutes 9/11 processional |
Following an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, speakers included Valerie Scarborough, Chairwoman of the Plymouth Select Board, who paid tribute to the the hundreds of public safety personnel who lost their lives in the terror attack on the Twin Towers.
“Today, we honor and courage, honor and commitment of the 343 New York firefighters and paramedics who were killed on 9/11… the 23 New York police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers that lost their lives,” said Scraborough. “We will remember the more than 2,000 civilians who perished in the Twin Towers, the 179 military and civilians who died at the Pentagon and the 44 heroes aboard Flight 93.”
Plymouth Fire Department Lt. Scott Cathy, a first responder, spoke about the tragedy of 9/11 from that perspective.
“We chose to live a life of service, we chose to put ourselves in harm’s way,” noted Cathy. “We choose to live a life of service. When we get on the engine, or the ambulance, we are honoring our calling.”
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| PSU President Sara Jayne Steen |
PSU President Sara Jayne Steen noted the events of 9/11 changed the world as we know it.
“Today, we remember a day ten years ago that profoundly affected all of us old enough to remember it,” Steen said. “In remembrance, we recognize the worst and the very best of which the human spirit is capable.”
The ceremony concluded with the release of peace doves and a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.
Following the memorial service, Plymouth State hosted a 9/11 Memorial concert at the Silver Center, with singers and instrumentalists from throughout New Hampshire joining Dan Perkins and the PSU choirs in performances of Jonathan Santore’s Later and Karl Jenkins The Armed Man.
Overcast. Temperature: 54; Wind: Calm; Conditions as of Mon May 20 at 08:00 AM EDT