Vienna firefighters honor heroes of Sept. 11 attacks
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VIENNA -- The Vienna Fire Department hosted its annual 9/11 memorial ceremony at the fire station Monday, during which firefighters gave speeches, draped a wreath in front of their 9/11 artifacts and rang the bell to honor first responders who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Fire Lt. John Hinely said this event was a "ceremony of remembrance."
"This is an opportunity for us to come together to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 and also pay tribute to all the firefighters, emergency medical service workers, first responders everywhere," he said. "We have to remember, thank and honor those who are the first responders, those who put their lives on the line and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for others."
Hinely recalled attending the ceremony that took place earlier Monday at the Mahoning Valley 9/11 Memorial Park in Austintown.
"I listened to the speaker. She was a very nice lady about my age," he said. "She was supposed to be on (American Airlines) Flight 77 as a stewardess. She had an ear and nose problem and her ears weren't clearing so she couldn't go. It was interesting to listen to her life story of how this day and that time period sent her life in a different direction."
Hinely also described the horrors first responders had to undergo on 9/11.
"The Twin Towers lay in ruin in lower Manhattan and brave first responders and military personnel were scrambling to save lives and secure the country," he said. "Life in America was set on a new trajectory."
Vienna fire Chief Richard Brannon said they were able to receive real ruins from the 9/11 attacks.
"Back in September of 2009 I had a visit from John Hinely. He came in and said 'I have something here you might be interested in,' and what he showed me was a paper, a letter from the September 11th Families Association and what it was was a letter (for) anyone interested in getting artifacts for memorial services for their township," he said.
Brannon said he pondered the idea before finally writing the association back and requested two artifacts.
"That letter was sent Sept. 16, 2009, and it was a very long process," he said.
He said they didn't write back, so he sent another letter asking for the artifacts again and was told they were required to get insurance on the artifacts.
They received insurance and were approved for transfer on March 24, 2011 and were able to pick up the items July 21, 2011.
Vienna resident Mattie Giddings attended the event and said some of her co-workers' families were affected by the events of 9/11.
"One lady I worked with, her sons worked at the World Trade Center," she said.