'Move forward strongly, with love'
Heroes of Sept. 11 honored at courthouse ceremony
EPHRATA Three years ago, Teresa Cubbage was a freshman at Ephrata High School, where her biggest worries were adjusting to the next step of her life.
Then terrorists struck the United States on 9/11, and the world supposedly changed forever. But on Saturday, the three-year anniversary of that terrible day, Cubbage said she could see herself shifting back into her Sept. 10 mode of thinking mostly about herself.
"We all still do that. We just simply and so easily get wrapped up in our own schedules," she said.
On Saturday at noon, though, a group gathered outside the Grant County Courthouse did otherwise: They took time out of their days to remember the heroes and victims of Sept. 11, and those who have continued to fight against terrorism.
Eleven speakers, including Cubbage, shared their thoughts about the tragedy then placed a flag on the war memorial to represent each of the wars where the United States has seen conflict.
Jimmy Salinas, a staff sergeant with the 1161st transportation company and a Vietnam War veteran, said the company's reception upon returning was much better than the one he saw in the 1970s.
"The homecoming here on this one it's quite an honor," he said.
Brian Evans, a paramedic for Grant County Fire District No. 5, read a poem he wrote in honor of all emergency-service personnel.
"Firefighters, medics, soldiers and cops, when it comes to saving lives, they give all they've got," he said.
And another line: "When you happen to meet one, give them the credit they're due. No fancy parties, just a simple thank you."
Paul Ellis, the chaplain for the Grant County Sheriff's Office, said the terrorist attacks reminded Americans that their freedom cannot be taken for granted, and steps must be taken to assure a similar tragedy never happens again.
"This is a time to remember and be grateful for the fact that God is still blessing America," he said.
Bruce Reim, the mayor pro tem of Ephrata, said most people mark important days such as Sept. 11 or the Kennedy assassination by where they were and what they were doing.
But it's different for heroes, Reim said.
"Heroes, on the other hand, are destined to be in certain spots," he said.
Seamus Kerr, a priest at St. Rosa of Lima, remembers where he was on Sept. 11. Kerr was on vacation in an Irish village when the townsfolk
began buzzing about what happened in New York, Washington, D.C. and a field in Pennsylvania.
"It's great that we gather here to really commemorate all those men and women that lost their lives somehow on that day," he said.
Bob Mack, post commander of American Legion Art Semro Post 28, said heroes died on Sept. 11, and more have put their lives in danger to fight in the war in Iraq.
"We owe them. We owe them a vow to never forget their sacrifice," he said. "We owe them the promise that we shall tell future generations of the price they paid for freedom."
Kyle Foreman, a firefighter for the Ephrata Fire Department, said many of the emergency service personnel who died that day were rescuing others. Some of the firemen were heading up the steps of the second World Trade Center tower, trying to find more people to save, Foreman said.
"As the tower came down, we must always remember that the spirit of the heroes continues climbing upward, where we will all meet again," he said.
Though Cubbage said she is often preoccupied with her own life, much like other Americans, she realizes the country cannot live that way.
"If we continue living for ourselves, we will never have control," she said.
"We cannot be constrained by anything if we move forward strongly, with love."