Tullytown Remembers, “But Never Forgets” with 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

Pick one name from the flag of heroes listing  the 353 firefighters who died,  said Chris Reif Chief of Operations for Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad. “Learn about that firefighter, get to know that person.  Talk about them with your friends and family.”

And that they did on Wednesday night at the 9/11 memorial service held at the Tullytown Fire Company.

Paying tribute to those that perished, suffered  and are suffering,   residents local dignitaries and honorees were treated to a night where first responders remembered.

With the firehouse gleaming red, white and blue and the flag flowing gently outside  the memorial service,  it  was more of a celebration of lives present and past as speakers reflected on the events of that fateful day.

The past and present colliding causing an echo of confluence in the standing room only crowd with residents and officials looking on.

From the melodious tones of  the singing group  “Men of Harmony” to recording artist LisaBeth Weber’s dedicated ballad “Troubled Man, ” to words that are generations apart between  Pennsbury School Board Member Jacqui Redner and Keynote speaker Jim Handley, a New York City Fire Dept. Chaplain, there was something for everyone who attended to consider during the service.

Mayor David Cutchineal, host for the evening, implored the audience “never to forget” why Tullytown comes together on 9/11.

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Council President  Rick Adams and vice president Mae Kucher both agreed the 9/11 memorial ceremony is one of, if not, the highlights  of the year in terms of doing something special for those that perished on 9/11 and those that remain with wounds to this day.

Handley spoke eloquently about the progression of chaplains being at the scene of fires, pointing out, prior to 9/11 it was unheard of for a person providing spiritual guidance and nourishment to be on scene. Now, he said, its standard operating procedure in most places since that tragic day.

Handley’s beginning remarks reflected on when he was boy and Pearl Harbor was attacked how that damaged the soul of  the nation, and implored the audience to be proud of their county and first responders.

Redner, who also spoke about Pearl Harbor is the wife and mother of  firefighters , asked her mother how was it she remembered the attack on the United States in 1941. Her mother told her, “”When something like that happens, it affects you greatly, you will always remember. I just hope and pray you will never have to experience something like that.”

” If you see a firefighter, police officer, or a paramedic/EMT, stop them and thank them for what they do, for you, your family, and their community. They do so out of honor, out of pride, and out of selflessness and they should be aware of how grateful we are,” Redner said in her speech.

The emotional pitch of the ceremony came when  John Bak  retired Marine NCO with his two children looking on talked about those he knew who had died and choked up on his words.

Tullytown Fire Chief  Rick Johnson, who presided over the ceremonial lighting of the candles,  said after the ceremony that so much has changed since 9/11 in terms of preparedness and training for firefighters that companies are  better able to manage unforeseen tragedies.

“We won’t forget” he said.