Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Monday marks 22 years since the attack on America, where hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
A number of municipalities across Western New York will mark the events with multiple ceremonies planned for Monday.
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The Niagara Falls Fire Department has held a 9/11 remembrance ceremony, keeping the actions of first responders in their thoughts. "We assemble out in front of Firehouse 8 on Hyde Park and Royal Avenue. Our honor guard and our department members will march out standard attention and at 9:58 a.m. we sound the tone," says Fire Chief Joe Pedulla. He says that will be followed by a moment of silence.
Pedulla says the attack hits Niagara Falls firefighters home. "We had two members in New York City for training for officer training that week, and they did respond to to the the area after the attacks," explains Pedulla. He says one has since passed away, the other still with the fire department. "These are our brothers and sisters in whether you're a firefighter here, or all the way across the world. There's a bond that's there. And for us to see our family pass the way that they did on that day," adds Pedulla.
Susan Grelick was Amherst Town Supervisor when the 9/11 attack happened in 2001. She helped to develop the Amherst Memorial Hill Grove, one of the first 9/11 memorials in the country. "Many of the young people weren't even born, when 9/11 happened. It's a reminder to take pause to take stock to appreciate the days we have with with the people that we love. And it's a reminder of the senseless tragedy that took place on 9/11," explains Grelick.
Grelick says the chaplains from Erie County Fire and Buffalo Fire will speak at the ceremony, set to start at 9:30 a.m.
The Buffalo and Naval Military Park will hold a ceremony at the hangar at 11:30 a.m. Monday. That event is free and open to the public. The ships and submarine will be closed. The park will be getting some help in restoring the historic vessels.
Paul Marzello says a Day of Caring will be taking place Monday, thanks to volunteers from National Grid, Highmark, and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, 150 strong. "We've got electricians, we've got welders, carpenters, people that are highly skilled, and people that we wouldn't normally have the resources to pay for to do the kinds of things that they're going to be doing," says Marzello. Those things include welding, removing rust, running electrical wire, and painting the vessels.
Marzello says 9/11 resembles another attack on America. "We know the tragedy of having thousands of people affected by something that is very similar to Pearl Harbor, so maybe this is the Pearl Harbor of this generation," says Marzello. "I hate to put it in those terms, but this is what my kids are relating to in their history. Pearl Harbor is something they read in history books. 911 is something they've experienced."
The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 killed nearly 3,000 people.