It’s been more than two decades since September 11, 2001, when terrorists from al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners, slamming two of those planes into New York City’s World Trade Center and another one into The Pentagon before passengers diverted the fourth plane away from Washington, D.C. and into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
To mark that somber occasion – which resulted in 2,977 fatalities and more than 25,000 injuries – officials from the City of Hattiesburg, the Hattiesburg Police Department and the Hattiesburg Fire Department held the city’s 23rd annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony last Wednesday at the Hattiesburg Cultural Center on North Main Street. The event started with a welcome by Mayor Toby Barker, with remarks by Hattiesburg Fire Chief Sherrocko Stewart, Hattiesburg Police Chief Hardy Sims and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
“All of us recall where we were when we heard the news (of September 11), and all of us … can take our minds back to the images on our TV screens and the heartbreaking stories of people who were on planes or in buildings, or working at Ground Zero,” Barker said. “Evil kicked in our door and came face to face with us, and we need to remember that – not only for ourselves, but for future generations who will follow.
“This has weighed a lot on me this year, because we’re in the middle of a national conversation right now on things that seem like life and death – economic policy, infrastructure, defense spending, personalities of candidates and would-be leaders. We get really caught up in those intense conversations and debating the consequences of elections. But on this September 11, we should feel the weight that the very fabric and cornerstone of our republic – which allows us to even have those conversations – was threatened, mocked and attacked some 23 years ago.”
After Barker’s remark, an invocation was given by minister Hannah Hopkins, who was followed at the podium by Stewart, Sims and Hosemann.
During the ceremony, bells tolled to mark the exact time the hijacked airplanes hit the first tower, the second tower and The Pentagon. Those occasions were marked as follows:
- At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower. That flight was carrying 87 passengers and crew members.
- At 9:03 a.m., American Airlines Flight 175 crashed into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower. That flight was carrying 60 passengers and crew members.
- At 9:37 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of The Pentagon. That flight was carrying 64, including the hijackers.
Casualties on the ground included 343 members of the Fire Department of New York, 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department and more than 2,500 additional civilians and first responders.
“We commemorate this day every year to pay our respect and to mind ourselves that even in the midst of tragedy, we will unite and overcome,” Stewart said. “Although we come together to remember each year, the events of that day have greatly impacted our daily lives, changed how we view the world, and altered our perceptions of our country and what it means to be an American.”
Following the remarks, the Hattiesburg Fire Honor Guard lowered the American flag to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11, and the Hattiesburg High School String Quartet performed the National Anthem.
“I want to (acknowledge) how resilient we are after the attacks that happened on 9/11,” Hosemann said. “When we started this (recovery), we also rose with some of the men and women who were willing to risk their lives for us to have what we have today, which is the ability to come here and meet.”
Toward the end of the ceremony, the Allen B. Carter Post 24 of the American Legion presented checks for $550 each to the benevolent funds of the fire and police departments.
The event concluded with a 21-gun salute by the Hattiesburg Police Honor Guard, along with the playing of “Taps” by Kyle Matthews and the laying of the wreath by HPD, HFP and AAA Ambulance. “Amazing Grace” was played, followed by a benediction from Reverend Arthur Siggers from Mount Olive Baptist Church.
