‘Remember and honor.’ 9/11 tribute a reminder that Americans can overcome adversity

It was a day when 19 years later most people can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they saw the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City shooting billowing black smoke into a clear Sept. 11 sky.

American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower at 8:46 a.m. and millions of Americans were tuned into the tragedy only to bear witness to a second plane crashing into the south tower at 9:03 a.m. There was little doubt in the minds of most Americans, at that point, we were under attack.

The news of that morning would continue to grow worse when at 9:37 a.m. it was reported the Pentagon had been struck by a plane and at 10:03 a.m. another plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field. It would be days before Americans would learn of the heroism of those on that flight and the untold number of lives they saved by sacrificing theirs.

Almost a full generation has now been born since that fateful day. Young Americans who don’t remember the details of it all and young people on the verge of adulthood who were not even born the days the towers fell, the Pentagon burned and heroes died.

“Which is why it’s important to not only not forget, but to teach the young people,” said Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant at Friday’s 911 Memorial Tribute at the Riverwalk in Bradenton. “Some of them weren’t even born and they don’t understand in a lot of cases the severity and horrible, horrible things that occurred to the United States that day.”

Bryant said her hope is ensuring these annual tributes continue and they serve as an educational reminder, “So they will understand these people who went forward, instead of running away.”

Retired NYFD firefighter Garrett Lindgren was one of those who ran toward danger that day.

A member of the NYFD Rescue 3 Battalion, Lindgren’s unit arrived on scene shortly after the north tower collapsed. He and his fellow firefighters spent the next several hours feeling their way around in the dark and black smoke searching for survivors.

Those who gave their lives on 911, he said, “did it for everyone. They did it without caring what color your skin is, what nationality you are or what God you believe in.”

Lindgren reminded a somber crowd that the actions of 19 terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, are still killing first responders today. In the past 19 years, 426 firefighters who survived 911 have since passed from various forms of cancer associated with that awful day.

Twenty-seven died in the past year alone and more than 100 former police officers have followed their colleagues to the grave.

All because they did their job that day, Lindgren said, and it’s time to remember those sacrifices and put politics aside.

“Some people understand what ‘Never forget’ means and some politicians only say it in passing and you can see that in their actions,” he said. “To put everyone in one bucket is disgusting, ridiculous and dangerous.”

There were few politicians and candidates at Friday’s tribute. Those attending included Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and mayoral candidate Gene Brown. Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant and Florida Representatives Tommy Gregory and Will Robinson also attended.

“I think we should pull together and be a united country,” Bryant said. “And we should protect those and have the backs of those who protect us.”

Poston, who will leave office after 20 years in January, was instrumental in ensuring that Bradenton carried the torch for an annual 911 tribute. An emotional Poston said Friday may be the last time he attends as mayor, but it certainly won’t be the last time he attends.

“It’s a commitment we made as a city and a commitment I made personally as mayor that we would never forget,” Poston said. “It still makes me choke up remembering what happened and watching it on TV. We’ve had several New York firemen who survived this in Bradenton and we had a group of widows who came for the first five years.”

Poston said the 911 memorial on Riverwalk has always been a special place.

Robinson, R-Bradenton, said people only need to remember two words when it comes to 911.

“Honor and remember,” Robinson said. “Honor those who protect, defend and serve us, our police officers our firefighters our military, because they are there to protect us. We also remember those we lost on 911. We remember the families that don’t have a father or mother to come home to. We remember those who were injured and certainly remember those brave men and women who went up the towers to certain death and didn’t come home to their families.”