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Poland American Legion reflects on 9/11
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Sons of the American Legion commander Jeff Vrabel organized a remembrance ceremony to honor those lost ten years ago during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .After Poland Fire Chief Chip Comstock shared his reflections on Sept. 11, he completed a symbolic act honoring fallen police and firefighters. Already a longtime tradition in fire departments across the country, Comstock rang a bell five times in four intervals to indicate fallen comrades.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During a final benediction during the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony, Poland township officials, leaders, and American Legion group commanders (left) observed a moment of silence.
By SARAH FOOR
Ten years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the members of American Legion Post 15 in Poland have taken the plea to “never forget” to heart.
Joining remembrance ceremonies across the Valley, state, country and world, Sons of the American Legion commander Jeff Vrabel organized the event to offer the Poland community a chance to reflect on the past and consider the future.
“Those lost in the attacks will not be forgotten — we will remember. We will always remember,” Vrabel said during the ceremony. “Grief was met with patriotism in the days after that fateful morning and that galvanization of our country pulled us through a difficult time.”
During the ceremony, Vrabel noted three empty chairs before him. One, with a red rose on it, represented the innocent civilians lost. The second honored POW-MIA soldiers in the years since the attack. The last honored the policemen and firefighters who were lost.
As guest speaker, Poland fire chief Chip Comstock shared the story of a close friend who was a first-responder firefighter in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Comstock asked the crowd to teach the importance of Sept. 11 to those who were too young to remember the events.
“Teach the lessons to your children. Face the past, remember how you felt and learn from it, so that we can move toward a safer future,” Comstock shared.
To complete the ceremony, Comstock rang a fire bell for fallen comrades and lit a memorial candle in honor of their sacrifice.