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Communities across the region mark 18th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

Ellen Abbott
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WRVO News

Communities across central and northern New York took some time Wednesday to remember the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, and the city of Syracuse used silence to take note of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

For 17 minutes at Fayette Fighters Park, only water splashing in a nearby fountain and the hum of traffic could be heard as dozens of officials, first responders and residents were lost in thoughts of that bright September day 18 years ago.

"Certainly 9/11, where I was, what I was feeling at the time. Imagining what everyone else was feeling in Manhattan, in the towers," said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. "But then you find your mind wandering to the things most important to you."

Walsh said his thoughts also went to his family, and said it was a difficult thing to explain to his 6 and 9-year-old daughters.

Credit Ellen Abbott / WRVO News
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WRVO News

"They asked me if it could happen again. And that was a really hard question to answer. And I think we all know that it could," he said. "But because of our brave men and women that serve in the military, because of our first responders, we know there are people working every day to make sure it doesn’t."

Also joining the remembrance were a couple dozen students enrolled in the New Vision Criminal Justice Program, students who are interested in law enforcement careers and spend half their day at the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department. Teaching assistant Denice Mecca said the students, many of whom hadn't been born yet, would hear stories about what it was like that day. They would hear about first responders at the sites of the attacks, as well as in Syracuse.  

"We were there in the sheriff’s office when he’s calling everybody 'We have to get all of the heads of the department together right now', because we thought we were under attack," Mecca said.

The ceremony in Syracuse was one of dozens to take place around the region Wednesday.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.