Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the Virginia War Memorial once again hosted a ceremony recognizing the impact of the tragic day.
At the Commonwealth's annual Patriot Day ceremony on Monday, attendees gathered at the Virginia War Memorial in the Shrine of Memory to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The event featured keynote speaker Karl S. Leonard, Sheriff of Chesterfield County, Va. and U.S. Coast Guard combat veteran.
Leonard, who went to Ground Zero to assist in recovery efforts, recalled his experience in the aftermath of the attacks.
"From the outskirts of down, darkness rained everywhere -- except for the eerie and gut-wrenching glow of Ground Zero," Leonard said. "Like the last burning ember of a campfire in a dark night, the glow from Ground Zero pierced the darkness all around us."
Each year, Patriot Day honors the heroes and victims of 9/11. In a briefing, the White House said the day serves as a reminder of the Nation's strength and character.
"Today we remember all the heroes who were forged in the hours, days, and years that followed that terrible morning of September 11, 2001 — ordinary Americans who, amidst the terror, smoke, and flames, demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness," the White House said. "Their bravery helped prove to our Nation and the world that what those terrorists most hoped to wound could never be broken: the character of our Nation."
