No American will ever forget where they were or what they were doing on September 11, 2001. The bureaucrats who gathered in Rose Tree Park on Friday, September 10th, weren’t an exception to anyone who came together to honor the sacrifices of every single person who lost their lives on that fateful day.
District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Delaware County Council commemorated the 911 attacks at the September 11th Memorial in Rose Tree Park. The ceremony opened with a prayer led by Sheriff Jerry Sanders. The memorial was placed in the park in 2008 as a reminder and a reflection place to remember heroes lost on that day as a result of those attacks. In his opening remarks, Sheriff Sanders called attention to the first responders who lost their lives rescuing others and said, “Never forget the memory of those who lost their lives that day. May their bravery be remembered and not just as a footnote in history books.”
Numerous elected officials were in attendance including, U. S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore. “We have an obligation to assure our younger generation not only knows what happened on September 11th; but that they truly understand the scope of the loss we’ve endured and how these events have impacted the trajectory of our nation. She noted that the heroes of that day were not, but hometown heroes everywhere. “They reflected my family, friends and neighbors and yours…the police officers, firefighters, veterans and EMT’s who put their lives on the line, putting on their uniforms in preparation to face the unknown, to keep us safe, protecting us from dangers we never even know were lurking. They swoop in to provide care when we aren’t as lucky. We’ll never have enough words to properly honor their service,” stated Scanlon.
Scanlon continued, “It’s important to remember the day and she’s been consoled in how the community and the nation came together in the face of tragedy…the outpouring of volunteers and supplies for those in need, and the support of Americans of different faiths who were targeted by bigots in the aftermath. We were truly the United States of America in the days, weeks, and months that followed.”
Echoing the sentiments of Scanlon, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer noted the tumultuous period following the presidential elections of 2000. There came unity because of the attacks. “For a moment, at least everybody in this country remembered we are all Americans, we all believe in the same things, freedom and tolerance, we have much more that unites us than divides us,” stated Stollsteimer.
“We can make a difference right here in Delaware County. Let’s be the change. Let’s always remember we have more in common than we have that divides us. Let us always work toward independence, freedom, and tolerance for everyone who lives with us in our society,” stated Stollsteimer.
Stollsteimer finalized his remarks saying, “That would be a proper honor for those who gave their lives 20 years ago.”
