A nation remembers
The Inland Northwest remembered the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks with silent reflection and somber bells, with flags and flowers and vows to never forget.
In Post Falls, Master Sgt. Mike Kish recalled being in the Iraq desert during last year’s 9/11 anniversary. Before dawn, as his Idaho National Guard unit was preparing to embark on yet another combat mission, Kish took a few moments to write in his journal.
It was cold, dark and Kish was far from his family in North Idaho. In his journal, Kish reflected on how dramatically his life had changed since the attacks on New York and Washington.
“If my kids never have to come here, then it’s all worthwhile,” Kish said, recounting his journal entry during a memorial service Monday at Post Falls’ Q’emlin Park.
The same idea was brought up by another speaker at the event, Bob Davis, pastor of North Country Chapel in Post Falls. Davis was working as a police officer in Las Vegas on 9/11. He volunteered as a chaplain in New York City and helped fellow police officers, firefighters and rescue workers deal with their trauma.
“They just wanted someone to talk to,” Davis told the crowd of about 100 people, including many schoolchildren.
Davis also worked at a morgue. He consoled family members as body parts came in. Although Davis admitted he has tried to forget some of the sights and smells of that time, he hopes the memories will never fade for the nation.
“If we forget, we will be a sorry country,” Davis said. “If we forget, we’re going to have to deal with it again.”
Robert Stamper, an associate pastor at the Family Worship Center, read a biblical passage from the book of Genesis in which Noah endures a massive flood. Stamper, who lost his eyesight to a land mine during the Vietnam War, said people often forget the past. “God never forgets,” he said.
A crowd of about 150 gathered Monday morning at Sandpoint’s City Beach to commemorate the anniversary.
“I was there,” said Valerie Binninger as she tossed flowers into Lake Pend Oreille.
Binninger lived in New York City for more than 20 years and was there on the day of the attack. She moved to Sandpoint to be with family last July.
In Boise, state officials, law enforcement officers and third-graders from nearby Roosevelt Elementary School gathered on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol, and Secretary of State Ben Ysursa led the group in observing a moment of silence.
Congressman Butch Otter told of hearing “this huge explosion” in Washington, D.C., when the Pentagon was hit, and both state Controller Keith Johnson and state Treasurer Ron Crane offered prayers.
Gov. Jim Risch signed a “patriot day” proclamation. The program honored victims of the terrorist attacks and saluted first responders and emergency workers.
“You get up and go to work in the morning, and there is a possibility that you may be asked to lay your life down every day on the job,” said Meridian Fire Chief Ron Anderson.
In Kootenai County, fire department personnel observed the anniversary with moments of silence on their radios at the times when the planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers.
Greg Wetzel, the training officer for Kootenai Fire and Rescue, organized the brief remembrance. Fire dispatch sent the message out to all fire scanner frequencies in the county.
At the Spokane County Interstate Fair, the solemn whine of bagpipes echoed off souvenir stands and food booths Monday evening as a somber procession of police, firefighters and military veterans marched toward the rodeo arena.
Fair patrons removed hats and saluted as the column passed and entered the arena, where a firetruck’s extended ladder held a U.S. flag over a stage. Other flags at the fairgrounds hung at half-staff – a reminder of the thousands of lives lost during and after 9/11.
Hundreds of people observed a moment of silence before honor guards performed funeral ceremonies to mark the five-year anniversary of 9/11.
Spokane Valley Fire Department Chief Mike Thompson urged citizens never to forget the events that killed 2,973 people, including many firefighters and police officers.
“These events will long live in our memory,” he said. “Our children’s children will hear of this day in future history classes.
“May we keep this day, the events and the tears in our minds, in our memories, in our hearts and take them with us as we carry on.”
A firefighter rang a bell nine times to honor lost firefighters, symbolizing the bell that once signaled fire alarms.
“We utilize these traditions as symbols which bestow honor and respect on those who have given so much and served so well,” said Bruce Hamner, a Spokane Valley fire chief who served as master of ceremonies.
The department’s pipe and drum corps, dressed in traditional Scottish garb, played “Amazing Grace,” another honor guard folded a U.S. flag 13 times as done at military funerals, and buglers played taps.
Jenni Leaming, whose husband, Bob, is a Spokane Valley firefighter, wore a blue FDNY “Never Forget” T-shirt and sweat shirt that he brought back from a visit to New York City.
“You think about their job, and we let them go every day without thinking about it,” she said. “But this brings it home. It makes you think twice about the ones you love.”
Representatives of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, the Washington State Patrol, the Spokane Police Department and the Washington Army National Guard also participated.
Country singer Lee Greenwood, known for his song “God Bless the USA,” performed.
Fairchild Air Force Base marked the day with a 4:30 p.m. ceremony in front of headquarters. An honor guard presented a wreath of red and white carnations while a bagpiper played and 250 airmen stood in formation. The honor guard then raised the flag from half-staff to the top of the flagpole before lowering it for the day.
Besides homeland security duties maintaining KC-135 refueling capability 24 hours a day, Fairchild has deployed 6,400 airmen since Sept 11. Some support the refueling mission. Others perform medical functions, and still others perform non-traditional Air Force jobs including support of U.S. Army convoys.