To me this is the story of this day. How many Lakewoodites came to see it unveiled.
Sean McDermott and daughter.
Dru Siley and son
Thousands of others
118 photos of the buildup and event at:
Related stories:http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2011/09/07/fallen-firefighter-memorial-set-for-september-11http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2011/05/17/911-steel-inspires-students-ideas-for-memorialLakewood Observer exclusive from Bill Knittel, Lakewood's Poet Laureate
As he read today.
"Freedom Rings Again And Again"They are what we call the Memorial Beams,
Used to create this symbolic gem,
In honoring New York's Firefighters,
Three hundred and forty-four heroic men.
Also, for the heros here in Lakewood,
Who in a moment of their careers,
Lost in the line of duty,
Their lives, taken over the past years.
And think what it's done to the families,
Their parents, their children, their wives,
Leaving emptiness, where once was laughter,
They'll carry with them all of their lives.
Just imagining the total devastation,
These men of daring had to fight,
Puts their complete dedication,
In very exceptional light.
The dastardly acts of psychotic terrorists
Who took New Yorks innocents, by utter surprise,
Leaving death, ravage and wastes,
To be witnessed by millions of eyes.
We saw towering buildings,
Standing so stately and tall,
Against Skies so blue in the sunshine,
Then suddenly crumble and fall.
These heroes they entered those buildings,
Dust and smoke in their lungs and their eyes,
Witnessing screaming and falling bodies,
And hearing such heart wrenching cries.
But still they continued their mission
In that inferno of chaos and death
Rescuing, freeing and helping,
Never quitting till their very last breath.
It's many years since that tragedy happened,
On that beautiful day in September,
I know in our minds I can see it,
And the whole world will always remember.
There's no way we could ever repay them,
For a task, where they gave it their all,
Showing the highest limit of bravery,
From the moment that they got the call.
Now these beams that make up this "Memorial,"
From the towers that once stood so high,
Are symbolic of our loss and our gratitude,
And what we believe in and why.
So may God bless all of our firefighters,
Yes all the brave women and men,
Always here to serve and protects us,
So that our Freedom Rings Again and Again!
Bill Knittel
Poet Laureate of Lakewood, Ohio
PS - Let me give thanks to all of our safety forces,
Because we know they are always there,
And not forgetting their courage and bravery,
Let's remember them each day in prayer.
,
