Published Thursday, September 12, 2002
MERCER COUNTY AREA
"We will never forget" became Americans' motto in the days after Sept. 11, 2001.
"We will never forget" where we were that day, how we first heard that America was under attack, how we felt as we watched commercial jetliners crash into the World Trade Center in New York City and the screams we could almost hear as those towers came thundering to the ground.
"We will never forget" the innocent lives lost, the people who had just gone to work that day, the way they did every day.
"We will never forget" the firefighters, policemen and rescue workers who made the ultimate sacrifice, just doing their jobs.
"We will never forget" the sight of the Pentagon, the center of our military, with a flaming, smoky gash in her heart.
"We will never forget" the heroic passengers of Flight 93, who foiled the hijackers' attempt to crash yet a fourth jet into America's heart.
"We will never forget" those hijackers' intent: to undermine all that America stands for through fear.
But most of all, "we will never forget" our resolve never to let them win.
All over America Wednesday, we renewed that vow.
There were dozens of community events in Mercer County on Sept. 11, 2002. Bells tolled in towns from Greenville to Grove City. Old Glory flew at half-staff. Firefighters and police stood in silence to honor their fallen brothers and sisters. Prayers were said. Candles were lighted. "Taps" was played.
If we weren't glued to our televisions to watch ceremonies in Washington, New York or Shanksville, we may have stopped to pick up a few groceries and been handed a "We Remember Buddy Poppy" by a member of the local American Legion.
Televisions in local stores were tuned in to the ceremonies; other retailers played patriotic tunes for shoppers.
In Grove City, the Rev. Juliann Pugh, an Air Force Reserve chaplain, said she experienced more love and joy at a mortuary where victims of the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon were taken than she ever has inside a church.
"That makes me kind of sad," Pugh told a group of Grove City College students Wednesday afternoon.
"But," she added, "it was fascinating to see the way people banded together and worked together as a team in such a trying time."
Rev. Pugh, associate pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Pa., was called to active duty after the Sept. 11 attacks and assigned to the port mortuary at Dover (Del.) Air Force Base.
Pugh said she spent most of her time in the "wrapping room" -- where victims or parts of them were wrapped and placed in coffins. "It looked like a room full of cocoons," she said.
"My primary responsibility was getting involved in conversations with people about regular-life things -- honing in on those who needed a break from things and just being there for everyone," she said.
Within six weeks all 183 victims were prepared for burial, she said. "Parts and pieces" of some of them were still being identified as recently as a month ago, she added.
Hours after Rev. Pugh spoke with the college students, she delivered a sermon to an overflow crowd at a communitywide memorial program at Grove City High School football stadium.
They were there to remember one of their own.
Grove City native Ruth E. Ketler, 43, died in the south tower of the World Trade Center, where she worked as senior vice president and director of research at Fiduciary trust Co.
Nancy Schell Purcell, a friend of Ms. Ketler's since they were 10, said she will remember Ms. Ketler's passion for life, curiosity of the world and integrity.
"She treated everyone the same, whether it was the doorman at her apartment building or the president of a major corporation," Ms. Purcell, shortly after lighting a candle in her honor.
Candles also were lit for the families and friends of the victims, police, firefighters and emergency personnel, victims in the airplanes and at the Pentagon, and volunteers who offered whatever help was needed.
While John Lewis, chief executive officer of United Community Hospital, Pine Township, noted Americans have a sense of fear not seen before the attacks, "The nation has continued to respond as only America can: in unity, unwavering pride and patriotism."
"I hope that the whole world can see that our country goes on," said Grove City Mayor Bruce Bennett.
The Rev. Bruce Zeitler, president of the Grove City Ministerial Association and pastor of Beloved Disciple Church, prayed that "the impact of 9-11 will enable us to rebuild our lives with courage and hope."
And while moral outrage and anger were two of the prime responses people had to the attack, he asked God, "Lead us always in a way that leads us to a free and lasting peace."
Sharon City School Board started their meeting Wednesday with a candlelight ceremony and a special rememberance of Rebecca Koborie, the Sharon native who was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The Sharon Tiger Kittens and Men of Note gave a special performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
Sharon police and firefighters were also in attendance and were recognized in the ceremony.
Up the street, American Legion post 299, Sharon, commemorated the day with a memorial service and flag retirement ceremony.
Sharon police, firefighters, local Boy Scouts and members of the American Legion post attended the ceremony. Debbie Truchan, West Middlesex, sang "The Star Spangled Banner," and Sharon police patrolman Steve Rossi, played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.
Post Commander Joe Wiesen said, "A year ago today we all found out American could be changed real quick, and it all happened real fast. And you can't hide tragedy."
Wiesen thanked everyone for attending. About 40 people were present.
In Jamestown, a large crowd assembled at Jamestown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Liberty Street, lit candles, and walked to the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department. Many were dressed in red, white and blue and carried American flags.
The brisk late summer breeze made keeping candles lit tricky, as Pauline Reiter and Natasha Skinner of Williamsville, Ohio, found out as they tried to light theirs. They said they came out to show respect for those who died last year on Sept. 11.
"We're showing we're all united," Ms. Reiter said.
A brief ceremony was held after the walk at the fire department, featuring the Pledge of Allegiance and readings from the Bible.
Ruth Guerrini sang the National Anthem. Later, her 5-year-old son Johnny, who had to stand on a crate to see over the podium, sang "God Bless America." Mark Holian, a Jamestown resident who is a firefighter in Cleveland, played the bagpipes.
Rev. Robert Price, pastor of Jamestown Presbyterian Church, was one of the speakers at the ceremony.
"Let these candles be the signal of our grief as we mourn the loss we feel, but let them also be the sign of our hope ..." Price said.
Jim Brown, Jamestown firefighter, spoke of the sacrifices emergency personnel make every day, not just on Sept. 11.
"As we honor those who died, let us give thanks to those who continue to serve us throughout the nation," he said.
In Greenville, Steve Williams of the Osbourne Funeral Home and Phillip Steele, marketing general manager of Rural Metro Ambulance service, spoke at the Greenville Country Club about their experiences in New York City to Greenville Torchbearer Chapter of the American Business Women's Association.
Williams talked about the feeling of working at the Medical Examiner's Office in New York City where he and 50 other funeral directors volunteered. He said his job for two weeks was to organize files and get release forms for families, which enabled families to arrange pick up of their loved ones remains.
"Words cannot explain it. It's truly saddening," Williams said.
He said the highlight of volunteering was a 45-minute talk he had with a woman over the telephone who had lost her son and was looking for answers. By the end of the conversation she was laughing.
"I helped one person," Williams said. "That meant more to me than anything in the world and that was really special."
Steele presented a slide show depicting various scenes from Sept. 11 along with photos taken by Rural Metro workers.
"I don't show these slides to bring tears, put chills down your spine or a lump in your throat. I show it because it's a tribute...It makes me proud to be an American citizen," Steele said.
He said he and 14 local workers and a pastor took seven ambulances to Ground Zero to join in a national response team effort. Their mission was to provide support for fire fighters.
"It's hard to believe twelve months have gone by. The last twelve months have really been a whirlwind and here we are a year later."
Chris Gravatte, president of the Torchbearer Chapter, said Association's program was dedicated to every tear shed and every loved one who perished.