CNY Stands In Unity With Nation To Remember 9/11 Victims

Utica, NY (WIBX) - The Mohawk Valley...standing in unity with the rest of the country to remember the victims on this 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

City of Utica Fire Chief, Russell Brooks, led the closing ceremony at the Parkway Center with volunteers reading the names of the 343 firefighters who perished that tragic day. Brooks said, "It's very appropriate on 9/11, to memorialize the firefighters that were killed on that day."

The chief goes on to say, "They [firefighters] were aware that the towers would come down...and they donned 80-pounds of equipment and went up 80 floors to rescue 20,000 people... knowing what the outcome would be." Twelve firefighters from Utica responded to assist emergency efforts in New York City.

9/11 is also National Day of Service.

Kelly Walters, Executive Director, Parkway Senior Center says one of the service projects her staff and volunteers organized supports area food pantries that serve Veterans. She said, "We've collected non-perishable food items that our volunteers came here today to sort and now they're being delivered to Veterans organizations to help build their food pantries to sustain our Vets."

Today's memorial service events started at the 9/11 Monument in Utica. Speaking at the Pentagon, President Obama said the true legacy of that horrible day will be a safer world and a stronger nation.