Staff photo / Bob Coupland Jim Davis, 9/11 committee member, at the podium, speaks at the Mahoning Valley 9/11 Memorial Ceremony Sunday in Austintown followed by playing of taps. From left are, Major Kevin Bukowski of the U.S. Army; Rabbi Courtney Berman of Congregation Ohev Beth Sholom; Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti; and Austintown Police Lt. Mark Skowron.

AUSTINTOWN — It was 21 years ago on Sunday that terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field in Shanksville, Pa., causing fear and panic nationwide.

There also was a sense of unity that grew among Americans following the attacks, which speakers at Sunday’s 9/11 memorial service in Austintown said was a key moment for the nation.

Austintown and Vienna townships, which both have beams from the Twin Towers and other items showcased at their 9/11 memorials, held special remembrance services on Sunday.

The Austintown Beautification Committee hosted the Mahoning Valley 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at the 9/11 memorial park on Raccoon Road.

Jim Davis, a 9/11 committee member, said there were many at Sunday’s event, including members of the Austintown Fitch High School choir, who were not alive on Sept. 11, 2001. The choir performed at the event.

“On a day we remember, we teach them about those who we honor,” Davis said.

During one their songs, members of the choir walked into the crowd and shook hands and thanked veterans at the event.

“On 9/11, we came together as a country of Americans. We can always honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 by being Americans,” Davis said.

Ausintown Police Lt. Mark Skowron said “there was something we all had in common 21 years ago and now again today by reaffirming our commitment to remember and honor the heroes of that day.”

Skowron said there were firefighters, emergency medical personnel, police officers and others who went to the scene of the twin towers to help to rescue people and many of them lost their lives when the towers fell.

“There are so many stories of bravery that day from those who took action and gave their lives for others. Those on Flight 193 who knew they were going to die saved countless numbers of lives on the ground by being brave and taking action. We gather as we do every year here to remember. Just as firefighters, police officers, EMS, military and American citizens took action in 2001, we need to keep taking action today by supporting the heroes and the survivors,” Skowron said.

He said people can ”take action” by supporting the 9/11 memorial.

U.S. Army Major Kevin Bukowski, with the Youngstown State University ROTC program, said for every generation, there is an event that people remember where they were such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Challenger space shuttle explosion or Sept. 11, 2001.

Bukowski said he remembers that day when the air raid sirens sounded.

“We had no idea what was going to happen that day. All I know is, 21 years ago my life changed,” he said. “The question we should ask today 21 years later is ‘How shall we remember September 11? For me, we need to remember the bravery of so many who made that sacrifice that day. Many of the individuals saw death in front of them but ran toward it to protect and help others they did not even know. There are men and women from Austintown who died during the global war on terrorism.”

Davis said the memorial in Austintown has many parts to it, including the two beams from the Twin Towers and soil from Shanksville, Pa. where Flight 193 crashed.

“All this helps you remember what happened on 9/11,” he said.

The terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania claimed the lives of 2,974 people. A total of 2,750 people were killed in New York, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Shanksville, Pa.

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said there is a generation that has grown from childhood into adulthood since 2001.

‘If you asked anyone where they were or what they were doing on Sept. 11, 2001, they will be able to tell you. Seeing the images today on TV does open wounds for many of us. There were people who lost their lives that day simply by going to work. This nation came together. The people, the first responders and the military took action and we overcame the tragedy,” Traficanti said.

He said Pat Connolly was the one who spearheaded the effort to get the 9/11 memorial established in the township.

“He did an incredible job organizing this memorial. This park covers all the bases of what took place on that tragic day 21 years ago,” Traficanti said.

Sam Swoger III, a committee co-chairman who educates local school children about Sept. 11, 2001, said “it was a cowardly attack on our country. A lot has happened and changed in our country since then. After the attacks, it was Pat Connolly’s vision to have something to always remember. This is Pat’s dream.”

A special sign was placed in the 9/11 memorial to remember Connolly, who died in 2021.

Rabbi Courtney Berman of Congregation Ohev Beth Sholom in Youngstown said 21 years ago, people saw the images on their televisions and tried to comprehend the unfathomable that had taken place.

“Our nation was changed forever… We were looking for answers to why. We then began the task of recovery and pursuing righteousness,” she said.