‘Twenty-five years ago, our nation stood still’

Under a cloudless blue sky, much like the one in New York City a quarter of a century ago, the Smyrna community gathered in front of Smyrna City Hall on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Leaders called on residents to keep coming together as a community and teach the next generation about the day that forever changed the country's trajectory.

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"Twenty-five years ago, our nation stood still," City Councilman Glenn Pickens said during the event, hosted by the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation. "We all remember where we were in the moments when the world shifted. We remember the disbelief, the heartbreak, the dark clouds that hung over New York, Washington, D.C. and the fields in Pennsylvania.

"We remember the 2,977 innocent souls lost — mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, and friends who went to work on a crisp Tuesday morning but never came home," Pickens added. "We remember what happened in the [hours] and days that followed. In our darkest hours, we did not see division; we saw courage."

Smyrna Fire Chief Brian Macros thanked the community for their support, saying it helps to power first responders.

"What I walked away from [9/11 recognizing] is that, 'yes, we could be called to lay down our lives, but more importantly, that the mission, our purpose is so well defined,'" Marcos said. "And to wake up every morning and to know what it is that your calling is and what you're supposed to do, that is a blessing. That is a true blessing, and it energizes our entire public safety team to be able to do that. And so we want you to know that we appreciate you."

Smyrna Police Chief Keith Zgonc challenged attendees to help the next generation keep the memory of the tragic day alive.

"I have a challenge for everyone here today," Zgonc said. "My challenge is to not only never forget September 11, 2001, but my challenge is to make sure that our younger folks that are out here — we have some grade school children out here, we have some folks that are in their teens, early 20s — let's make sure they never forget Sept. 11, 2001."

After the memorial service, first responders participated in the 9/11 Memorial Run.

The community's events began on Thursday, Sept. 10, when Boy Scouts and first responders set up a Flags of Remembrance display next to Smyrna City Hall.

This story was first published on SmyrnaVinings.News and is republished here with permission.