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The Syracuse community gathered alongside political leaders, police officers and firefighters at Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park Wednesday morning for the city’s annual remembrance ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Around 65 attendees, including Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile, observed 17 minutes of silence to honor the nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11. The silent reflection took place from 8:46 to 9:03 a.m., marking the exact times when the north and south towers of the World Trade Center were hit.

“We ask that during the 17 minutes of silence, all who are present take a few moments to reflect on the lives lost that day and keeping your thoughts with the first responders leaving their homes and families every day to keep our city, county, state and nation safe,” Matthew Craner, district chief of the Syracuse Fire Department, said.

Throughout the commemoration, Syracuse city officials and first responders delivered remarks on the 23rd anniversary of the attacks. The ceremony offered time and space for reflection and information for younger generations.

The memorial service opened with a performance of the United States national anthem by Lieutenant Anthony Callisto, a former senior vice president for safety and chief law enforcement officer at Syracuse University. Local pastor Lateef Johnson-Kinsey, who also serves as director of the Mayor’s Office to Reduce Gun Violence, went on to lead attendees in prayer.

Chief of Fire Michael Monds then asked attendees to not only never forget the events of Sept. 11, but to also remember Sept. 12. Monds said he recalls an increased sense of national unity on the days following the attack, as people shared support for others who had been strangers just days prior.

“Have we lost those feelings of how we felt towards each other the day after those attacks?” Monds said. “I personally remember everybody putting humanity and love first, regardless of any topic that divided us on September 10, 2001 or before.”

Charlie Hynes | Contributing Photographer

Walsh and McMahon then lit candles in memory of the victims before moving into the 17 minutes of silence.

The Onondaga County 911 Center played a tone at the observation’s beginning and end to represent the attacks on each tower. Craner said the tones played are the same sounds first responders in Onondaga County hear while working every day, similar to what responders in New York City heard on the morning of Sept. 11.

One group of high school seniors from different schools in the Syracuse area said they attended the ceremony as part of the New Vision Criminal Justice initiative, a program for local students interested in pursuing law enforcement careers.

Some students saw the ceremony as an opportunity to learn more about 9/11 and understand how the attacks still impact people today.

“We weren’t around during 9/11, so it’s good to understand the history and be able to tell other people’s stories that can’t tell their own anymore,” said Madison Rotter, a NVCJ student.

The silence ended with a second prayer led by Johnson-Kinney, who encouraged attendees to remember that everyone is human and to treat each other with love. SFD Lieutenant Raymond Leak closed the ceremony with a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, more members of the New York City Fire Department have died from illnesses contracted during search and rescue than were initially killed, ABC reported Monday. FDNY officials now say 343 members died in the attacks and, since then, over 360 members died due to diseases related to the dust and smoke produced by the collapse of the towers.

“Some of you may have been working that day 23 years ago. Some of you may have wanted help in the aftermath and have a personal connection with someone lost,” Craner said. “Others of you may not even have been born when the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked, but you still understand the sacrifice the rescuers willingly made.”

Published on September 11, 2024 at 10:13 pm

Contact Delia: dsrangel@syr.edu