‘Remembrance, reflect and recommit’
Howland ceremony honors lives lost, first responders
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HOWLAND -- Every generation has a defining historical moment. For the Greatest Generation, it was World War II.
For Baby Boomers, it was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy Jr.
A more recent significant event was the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. They occurred in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa.
Howland hosted a 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony Friday morning at Richard E. Orwig Park.
In his opening remarks, Dr. James Lapolla said, "I think everyone over 30 has distinct memories of that day."
He cited the news showing the aftermath of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in the nation's capital.
The theme of the ceremony was "Remembrance, Reflect and Recommit."
Gary Lehman of Howland spoke of his personal experience living in New York City.
"I lived in a brownstone a mile and a half from the Twin Towers," Lehman said.
He woke up to his typical routine of working out and walking to his favorite bagel shop. On his way, a page from a book floated down to him. He did not realize the significance until he returned to his apartment and his wife turned on the TV. They saw the smoke coming from the building.
"When we looked outside of our window, we usually saw the top floors of the Twin Towers. Now, all we could see was smoke. We had smoke over our buildings for three days," Lehman said.
Lt. Anthony Fairbanks, a Howland firefighter and paramedic, recalled his memories of that day as a child.
"Sept 7, 2001, my aunt passed away. Just a few days later my family was gathered in mourning on Sept 11 in northern Cambria, Pa. I was 9 years old," he said.
As his family prepared to leave for Mass from the funeral home, they stepped outside and everything changed.
"When the first tower was hit, someone in the parking lot heard it on their radio. My family went into a room and turned on the TV. We were all in shock. I didn't fully understand what was happening or why someone would do this to our country," Fairbanks said.
Then a significant event occurred in his young life.
"My aunt was being placed in the hearse, and Flight 93 was flying above us. It was just south of our location. It sounded like a freight train going over top of us and only a few thousand feet above us. We all stood there as this large plane flew overhead unaware that it was going to its final destination in Shanksville, Somerset County which, was about 30 miles south of our location," he said.
Fairbanks noted that his family gathered to mourn one life on that day but at the end of it, the entire nation was mourning almost 3,000 lives.
Howland Township Trustee Matthew Vansuch mentioned that Flight 93 crossed into this area on its way to Shanksville.
"When the plane that was going from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco flew over Stillwagon Road, it dropped 50 feet," Vansuch said.
That is believed to be the time when the terrorists took over the plane. It also flew over the woods behind Howland Springs Elementary School going toward Springwood Trace and dropping 190 more feet.
Frank Dillon, a retired police officer and chairman of the Howland trustees, gave the keynote address.
"We remember the lives lost, including the first responders. We reflect on the courage witnessed and the unity that followed and we recommit to service, our neighbors and treating each other with respect," Dillon said.
He added a fourth word -- responsibility. He said that those who remember this day have a responsibility to inform young adults about it and how we all came together and asked "how can I help?"
Sgt. Jonathon Coleman of the Howland Police Department discussed the numerous first responders who lost their lives that day, noting it was the largest loss of life in a single day in American history.
Howland paramedics, Jordan Gibbs and Seth Durig rang a bell for a moment of silence at the exact time when the first plane hit the north tower and the second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center.
During the ceremony, Howland American Legion Post 700 Chaplain and Navy veteran Dave Luther read the poem he wrote, "The Trowel and the Sword" on the day of Sept.11 reacting to the horrific events, discussing rebuilding and trusting in God.
The Howland High School Band played "The Star-Spangled Banner, "America the Beautiful" and taps to end the ceremony.
Howland Township Administrator James Pantalone reflected on the importance of having an event for the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11.
"This ceremony serves as a reminder of the sacrifices of our first responders, the innocent lives lost on that day, the heroic acts of those passengers on Flight 93 and a reminder of how we, as Americans, stood together after these horrific acts."