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By Bill Van Tassel
LEWISTON – City officials and members of the fire and police departments gathered in the parking lot of L/A Harley on Sept. 11 to remember those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 ceremony was held to remember how first responders, including firefighters and police at the scene of the attacks ran into the burning buildings to help save people, and in general, how first responders are will to risk their lives to help others on a regular basis.
A crowd gathered to watch as police and fire department members marched in with a small group of bagpipes; with the Color Guard presenting the colors. Karen Staples, a representative of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, read a statement by Collins in which she noted several of the Maine people who were lost that day. “Twenty years later, that moment that swept over us as we sang ‘God Bless America.’ has been our strength in the challenges we have faced,” Collins’ statement said.
Lewiston Police Sgt. Jason Johnson spoke about his father and brother, both policemen in upstate New York, who responded to the attack. They traveled immediately down to the scene of the World Trade Center attack in New York City to see what help they could be.
Johnson recalled growing up listening to police stories at the Coffee Shop, and wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps as a policeman.
“They never liked to talk about their experiences there [at the World Trade Center site],” he said..”
As the event at L/A Harley closed, Hope Haven Director and LFD Chaplin John Robbins read the Firemen’s Prayer, and Cindy Robbin sang the national anthem.
