NANTICOKE, Pa. — A procession of service members, firefighters, officials, and EMS students up Walk of Honor Drive at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke begins this annual 9/11 memorial ceremony.
"We gather today to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on our country and the lives lost on that date," said LCCC's director of security and safety, Doulas Fawbust, to the crowd.
The reason behind this gathering is simple: make sure those sacrifices are never forgotten and emphasize the significance September 11, 2001, has on our country through speeches, bell tolling, and prayer.
"I think with the chaos that happens in our daily lives, I think that people forget that, like, when bad things happen, we all, like, come together," said first-year EMS student Carolina Montes of Old Forge.
Wilkes-Barre City Fire Chief Jay Delaney talked about traveling to New York City days after the attacks and what he and his fellow first responders witnessed while delivering supplies.
He turned to EMS students here at LCCC to make sure they understood the potential sacrifices they may face in the future.
"Let's never, ever, ever forget those first responders, those firefighters, those police officers, those paramedics that knew there was a good chance they weren't going to come back out that successfully managed the rescue of 18,000 people," said Delaney.
His message was not lost on the students and only fueled their motivation for entering public service.
"It's a very selfless thing. And I think it's special that those of us who aren't scared to put their lives on the line for a stranger," said Montes.
"That's definitely something I'm signing up for. I think someone that could give something like that, you know, giving their all and making the ultimate sacrifice. "That's something very powerful, and that's something that people will always remember," said fellow student Ryan Padgett of Scranton. "And some all gave some, but some gave all, and it's important to remember,"