9/11 Ceremony In Toms River Marks 21st Anniversary Of Terror Attacks

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River honored the memories of those who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with its annual ceremony on Sunday.

The ceremony, hosted by Toms River Volunteer Fire Company 1 in conjunction with the Toms River Township District 1 and 2 Fire Officers Association, highlighted the sacrifice of the 343 firefighters who rushed to the World Trade Center that day to try to rescue those in the Twin Towers after the hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into them.

There were 2,977 people who were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks. At the World Trade Center, 2,763 died, including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers died, according to History.com. At the Pentagon, 189 people were killed, including 64 on American Airlines Flight 77, the airliner that struck the building. On United Flight 93, 44 people died in the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, before it could reach its intended target.

Among those who died were two Toms River residents: Patricia M. Fagan and Robert C. Kennedy; both died at the World Trade Center.

Council President Kevin Geoghegan, Council Vice-President Matt Lotano, Councilman Josh Kopp, Councilman Justin Lamb, Councilman Dan Rodrick and Police Chief Mitch Little were among those in attendance.

The Toms River Police Department's honor guard was present, and the ceremony at the firefighter memorial across from the fire company on Robbins Street concluded with the ringing of the bell signifying the firefighters' end of watch.