Photo credits to MPFD member Nick Benedetto.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, 9/11 remembrances were held across Bergen county . The Village of Ridgewood lost 12 neighbors on that day and the Village of Ridgewood hosted a 9/11 remembrance to remember and honor all those tragically lost on 9/11 at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square .
Midland Park Fire Department hosted a community service of remembrance for the 20th anniversary of 9/11. We thank the Midland Park Police Department, Midland Park Ambulance Corp, department Chaplin Pastor Rod Gorter.
Residents and first responders gathered on the front lawn of the Borough Hall in Ho-Ho-Kus to mourn the innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001. Mayor Thomas Randall paid tribute to Ho-Ho-Kus residents Neil G. Shastri, and Richard H. Woodwell, who lost their lives on 9/11. Administrator William Jones spoke, and Pastor Bierwas, of the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Church, led a prayer. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department Officer Owen Morrissey played the bagpipes.
Glen Rock marked the 20th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, the date of the attack on the World Trade Center. Glen Rock had the misfortune of having one of the highest per capita losses in the area. Memorial Service was held at the 9/11 Memorial in Veterans’ Park (Main Street, Glen Rock) on Saturday, September 11th, 2020 at 6:30pm. Sponsored by the Glen Rock Assistance Council and Endowment – GRACE.
G.R.A.C.E, the Glen Rock Assistance Council & Endowment, was established in the days immediately following. Its purpose was to facilitate aid to the eleven families in town. We came together as a community to provide all kinds of support. Money was donated, kids sold cupcakes, scouts raked leaves, school lunchroom ladies donated a portion of their salaries, and donations were received from around the world. In addition, a support group was formed for the families, and numerous other acts of support, kindness, and compassion manifest.
Eventually, the memorial that stands in Veterans Park on Main Street was built, and each year a ceremony is held to remind us of that which we lost and that which we should always value. In preparation for the 20th anniversary the trustees of G.R.A.C.E. are arranging for a series of granite stones to be engraved and placed into the path in front of the memorial. It is important that the story and symbols within the memorial are remembered even after those of us who were here are gone.
Members of the Paramus Fire Department and the Paramus Community honored the victims of Sept 11, 2001 at Freedom walk 2021 and Twp of Washington held a September 11th 20th Anniversary Memorial Service marking the day with a National Day of Service & Remembrance.
The day of remembrance was a solemn occasion that deeply touched many Americans.
But isn’t it shocking that a number of younger people who say they do not know the facts of 9/11/2001 simply consider domestic terrorism to be the bigger problem now?
With the recent mismanaged pullout from Afghanistan the possibility of exported terrorism should be of major concern to all Americans. Afghanistan was the staging ground for the Islamic extremist terrorist attacks on America in 2001.
Afghanistan is now again in the hands of the Taliban. The well equipped, well fortified Bagram air base in Afghanistan was abandoned by the Biden administration in April 2021 and the Taliban has complete access to it.
Even more disturbing is that it has been reported that China’s military officials and economic officials have expressed an interest in meeting in Afghanistan to discuss investing in the infrastructure of Afghanistan.
Is it not therefore alarming that the Chinese communist government may wind up investing in a terrorist nation that already hates America? Would that not be cause to be quite concerned about the safety of America? Or do we deflect?
I am not drawing any conclusions except that these are questions that each of us should ponder.
If exported terrorism becomes well funded by communist governments then it shouldn’t be overlooked.
Do learn the history of 9/11 and the role in which Afghanistan played. Know that our international enemies still hate America.
I believe we must elect political leaders in our country who do not deflect from the real threats of exported terrorism. We cannot afford to be complacent ever again.
Well said Jon.
Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.