County Officials Remember 9/11 Victims, Encourage Unity

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County officials remembered the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a Friday morning ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in Millersville. County Executive Steuart Pittman, Fire Chief Trisha Wolford and Interim Chief of Police Bill Lowry placed a wreath at the monument and honored all those affected with a moment of silence.

Pittman reminded residents of the unity that swept the nation after the attacks.

"The American people, in our county and everywhere, locked arms in response to terrorism," Pittman said. "Even politicians understood that partisan differences paled in comparison to our common threat. That's the lesson we must remember from 9/11"

The county executive believes Americans can still reunify. He insists that residents still share common interests.

Pittman encourages residents to reach out to somebody with differing political beliefs today. Perhaps that will reunify the country, he says.

"In this moment 19 years later, whatever our political beliefs, we lament our divisions, we yearn to be united, we want to vanquish the threats before us: COVID-19, racism and violence," Pittman said. "We as Americans can come together."

The memorial opened in 2010 and includes two beams from the World Trade Center. The remembrance respects those who lost their lives during the attacks and the first responders who serve Anne Arundel County.

Of the 3,000 people who died, 343 were firefighters, 80 were police officers and 8 were medics. A total of 68 Marylanders died in the attacks.

"Do what our first responders do every single day: help someone," Pittman said.

Gov. Larry Hogan and Lieutenant Gov. Boyd Rutherford also paid their respects at the Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial. The duo laid wreaths and encouraged Marylanders to reflect on the day.

"I ask Marylanders to once again join us in praying for the victims of 9/11, for their families, and for the heroic first responders who didn’t hesitate to answer the call," Hogan said.

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