FOLSOM — Residents and city leaders joined members of the Folsom Fire Department and Folsom Police Department Wednesday morning for a solemn 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Lions Park, where words of reflection and unity underscored the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that forever changed the nation.
The ceremony began at 8:46 a.m. — the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 2001. Assistant Fire Chief Matthew McGee opened the program by honoring the 343 New York City firefighters and paramedics, the 23 New York Police Department officers, the 37 Port Authority police officers, and the 33 flight crew members who gave their lives in the line of duty that day. He reminded the audience of the 125 civilians and military personnel who perished at the Pentagon and the nearly 3,000 innocent civilians who died in the towers and aboard the four airliners.
“We honor the Flight 93 passengers who fought back against the terrorists, preventing the plane from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. That saved countless lives,” McGee said. “We also remember the workers who have since died of chronic diseases from exposure while sifting through the rubble to help a nation heal and find closure. Though twenty-four years has passed, the memory of that day remains etched in our hearts. We come together not only to remember those who were lost, but also to reaffirm our commitment to never forget. Today, we also extend our gratitude to the military personnel who continue to protect and serve our nation, defending our freedom. To the veterans here with us today, we are honored by your presence, and thank you for your service.”
Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino followed, delivering a deeply personal reflection.
“Every Sunday, I spend a few minutes going over my calendar to prepare for the week ahead,” Aquino said. “As I was looking at my calendar for this week, three events jumped out at me. It may seem silly, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those three events are happening in the same week as this remembrance ceremony. I think it’s a reminder. It’s a reminder that the spirit of the 2,977 individuals who lost their lives on 9/11 lives in all of us.”
Aquino pointed to Tuesday’s council meeting, where five residents were honored. “At Tuesday’s council meeting, we presented five residents with the ‘Spirit of Folsom’ award for going above and beyond in service to our community. Five ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
She then reflected on the story of Flight 93. “United Airlines Flight 93 started out as an ordinary flight, heading from Newark to San Francisco, partially filled with passengers traveling for business, on vacation, back home, and to a friend’s wedding. Forty-six minutes into the flight terrorists broke into the cockpit, incapacitated the pilot and first officer, and took control of the plane. Forced to the back of the aircraft, the passengers and crew began calling their loved ones. After learning about the hijacked planes that had already hit the North Tower, the South Tower, and the Pentagon, they took a vote and made a plan.
“Flight 93 didn’t hit its intended target thanks to the heroic efforts of the passengers and crew who fought back. Todd Beamer; Mark Bingham; Thomas Burnett, Jr.; Jason Dahl; Jeremy Glick; CeeCee Ross Lyles; Mark Rothenberg; Deborah Welsh, and so many others. Ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage.”
Turning back to Folsom, Aquino noted that the city will welcome seven new firefighters this week, “young men who have chosen to step forward and face danger so that others may remain safe,” she said.
“In the attack on the World Trade Center, New York lost 343 firefighters, 1 Firefighter Patrolman, 23 police officers, and 37 Port Authority officers. Since 9/11, thousands more first responders have died of cancer or respiratory issues as a result of the toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero, ” Aquino continued. “The incredible courage and bravery shown by our first responders that morning is one of the enduring legacies of 9/11. They ran into burning buildings, so others could run away.”
She also spoke of Folsom’s global ties. “This Saturday, at 11 a.m. our time, we’re having a video call with the Mayor of Pieve del Grappa, Italy as we celebrate 25 years of a sister city friendship. The sister city movement was started by President Eisenhower when he invited Americans from all walks of life to attend a White House conference on citizen diplomacy. The date of that conference was September 11, 1956.
Aquino shared how attacks of September 11, 2001 happened on American soil, but it wasn’t just Americans who were killed. Citizens from almost 60 other countries also perished that day. As America grieved, the world grieved as well
“Students in Japan sent thousands of origami peace cranes to St. Paul’s Chapel in New York. A headline in France’s Le Monde newspaper read, ‘We are all Americans.’ And in London, as requested by the Queen, the Star Spangled Banner was played during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace No, I don’t think our local events this week are a coincidence. They are a reminder.
As time passes and memories fade, we have an even greater obligation to remember the names of those who lost their lives on 9/11; to honor their service, their sacrifice, and their extraordinary acts of courage with service, sacrifice, and extraordinary acts of our own. And, as Americans, we have a responsibility to stand together with the citizens of the world to ensure that good always triumphs over evil.”
The ceremony continued with a prayer by Pastor Daniel Vang of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, who called on the community to seek peace, unity, and strength in remembering the tragedy. Music played a symbolic role in the service as well. Vista del Lago High School student Gillian Highland performed Taps, a moment of reflection that drew quiet reverence from the gathered crowd.
As the ceremony closed, Folsom Police Commander Andrew Bates reflected on both the tragedy and the enduring spirit of unity it inspired. “It’s been twenty-four years since that terrible morning, but we remember exactly where we were when we heard the news. We remember watching the towers fall and feeling like the world had changed forever,” Bates said. “What I think about most is how people responded that day. The firefighters and police officers didn’t hesitate to run into the buildings. The passengers on Flight 93 fought back. The ordinary folks who helped strangers get to safety. It reminds me that people step up. I see that in Folsom every day. We look out for each other. When someone’s in trouble, neighbors show up. When there’s a crisis, people come together. That’s the kind of community those heroes were protecting.
“We can’t bring back the people we lost that day, but we can honor them by staying connected to each other and by never taking our freedom and safety for granted,” Bates added. “So let’s remember September 11. Let’s also remember who we are as Americans and as neighbors. We’re stronger together. Thank you for coming out today. We will never forget.”
Looking back, a timeline of September 11, 2001
On that day, 2,977 people were killed in coordinated terrorist attacks that stunned the nation and the world. Two hijacked commercial airliners struck the twin towers of New York City’s World Trade Center, another hit the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back.
The attacks marked the deadliest assault on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The staggered nature of the events ensured that much of the tragedy unfolded on live television, searing the images into the memory of millions.
5:45 a.m. — Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari, two of the intended hijackers, passed through security at the Portland International Jetport in Maine. They took a commuter flight to Boston Logan International Airport and later boarded American Airlines Flight 11.
7:59 a.m. — American Airlines Flight 11 departed Boston for Los Angeles with 76 passengers, 11 crew members, and five hijackers on board.
8:15 a.m. — United Airlines Flight 175 departed Boston for Los Angeles with 51 passengers, nine crew members, and five hijackers on board.
8:19 a.m. — Flight attendant Betty Ann Ong alerted ground personnel that Flight 11 had been hijacked and the cockpit was unreachable.
8:20 a.m. — American Airlines Flight 77 departed Washington Dulles for Los Angeles with 53 passengers, six crew members, and five hijackers on board.
8:24 a.m. — Mohamed Atta, aboard Flight 11, inadvertently broadcast to Boston air traffic control while attempting to address the cabin, alerting controllers to the hijacking.
8:37 a.m. — After hearing Atta’s transmission, Boston controllers alerted the U.S. Air Force’s Northeast Defense Sector, which mobilized the Air National Guard.
8:42 a.m. — United Airlines Flight 93 departed Newark for San Francisco after a delay. There were 33 passengers, seven crew members, and four hijackers on board.
8:46 a.m. — Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, killing everyone aboard and trapping occupants above the 91st floor.
9:03 a.m. — Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center’s South Tower, killing all aboard and many inside the building.
9:05 a.m. — In a Florida elementary school classroom, President George W. Bush was informed that the second tower had been hit.
9:28 a.m. — Hijackers attacked aboard Flight 93.
9:37 a.m. — Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing all passengers and crew and 125 civilian and military personnel inside the building.
9:45 a.m. — U.S. airspace was shut down under Operation Yellow Ribbon. All civilian aircraft were ordered to land at the nearest airport.
9:55 a.m. — Air Force One, carrying President Bush, took off from Florida.
9:57 a.m. — Passengers aboard Flight 93 began moving toward the cockpit to confront the hijackers; the pilot hijacker began rolling the aircraft to destabilize the revolt.
9:59 a.m. — The South Tower collapsed.
10:02 a.m. — Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Its presumed target was either the White House or the U.S. Capitol.
10:18 a.m. — President Bush authorized the shoot-down of any non-grounded aircraft posing a threat.
10:28 a.m. — The North Tower collapsed.
10:53 a.m. — Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ordered U.S. military forces to a higher state of alert, moving to DEFCON 3.
11:45 a.m. — Air Force One landed at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, Louisiana.
12:15 p.m. — U.S. airspace was completely cleared of commercial and private flights.
1:30 p.m. — Air Force One departed Barksdale.
2:30 p.m. — New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani visited the site of the fallen towers at what became known as Ground Zero.
3:00 p.m. — Air Force One landed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where President Bush was taken to a secure bunker.
4:30 p.m. — Air Force One departed Offutt for Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C.
5:30 p.m. — World Trade Center Building 7 collapsed.
8:30 p.m. — President Bush addressed the nation from the White House.
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