With not a cloud in the sky, the haunting reflection of a cool September day brought back fear and sadness as people gathered to commemorate those who died in the 9–11 attacks. The temperature and the clear blue sky during the ceremony at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Moorestown on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, reminded many of the clear blue sky on Sept. 11, 2001.
An hour-long ceremony was devoted to memorialize the tragic death of 3,000 people. Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical rescue workers all died to help save the lives they swore to protect. Civilians died who were in the World Trade Center, Pentagon and on American Airlines Flight 11 and Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 175 and Flight 93.
The Burlington County 200 Club is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers to help provide financial assistance to the fallen or injured members of the state police, county and municipal police, fire or emergency medical services in Burlington County.
Moorestown volunteer firefighter and president of the Burlington County 200 Club, Peter Clifford, will never forget that terrifying day.
“I will never forget those who died. I think back 11 years ago and don’t forget,” Clifford said.
The most frightening for Clifford was sending his son to help out at Ground Zero months after the attacks. Clifford’s son, Jonathan Clifford, was 13 years old when he volunteered, but his father was still fearful for his son’s safety. He was allowing his son to go into the unknown. Clifford knew he had to let his son go to help out as much as he could.
“Sending my child to volunteer changed his life forever,” Clifford said.
According to Clifford, reflection is important.
“I sincerely hope ceremonies like this don’t diminish,” Clifford said.
Clifford said it was only 11 years ago that a few hours changed our world forever.
Those who were not in the city during the attack remember what they were doing when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower at 8:46 a.m.
For 19 years, Patrolman George Huble served in the Moorestown Police Department. He vividly pictured what he was doing that day.
“I was running radar control,” Huble said.
The incident was airing, as on many of the stations during that day, on KYW radio. Huble heard that a small plane crashed into the north tower. When he went back to the station and turned on the TV. He watched another plane come in and hit the South tower. It was a “sickening feeling” when he watched and heard about the attacks.
Vice president of the Burlington County 200 Club, Jack Smith, introduced a Medford Lakes resident who was in one of the buildings during the time of the attack. David Piereth could not attend the ceremony so he asked Smith to read his story for him.
He was working on the 74th floor of the south tower when the plane struck 20 floors above him. Piereth managed to get out of the south tower safely, but when he was in the stairwell, he felt the building swaying.
“I was very fortunate that day to get home when many didn’t,” Piereth wrote.
FBI Special Agent Richard Quinn shared the grim details of his experience in Manhattan on 9–11.
Most people thought it was an accident, but when Quinn’s meeting was postponed because of the attack, he hurried to his car and sped into the city.
A significant amount of debris, and smoke filled the city streets and the bridges of New York City. Quinn compared driving through the ashes like driving through snow. In his hurry, he lost control of his car and hit a median. Through the ash and smoke he saw police and fire.
“I remember the fear in their eyes . . . I saw fear, but I also saw something else,“ Quinn said.
Behind the eyes filed with fear, Quinn saw determination in the emergency responders’ eyes.
Through the debris, Quinn could see objects falling around the building. At first he didn’t think much of it until he noticed flailing arms. He described the objects that were coming down as dark, but he couldn’t make them out.
Quinn mentioned the people trapped in those buildings had to decide between jumping or burning to death.
“I can’t imagine having to make that decision,” Quinn said.
He will never forget that feeling of terror as he ran through the streets when the building collapsed.
Through the smoke, he saw an opening across the New York Harbor. The Statue of Liberty stood tall and “framed by the horror of the day.” The torch was held high and Quinn knew that the country, and the city would be “resilient enough and defiant enough, to withstand this attack.”
Quinn expressed the pride he felt when he watched police officers and firefighters. They swore to protect civilians, and Quinn was honored to watch emergency responders risk their lives to protect others.
Ceremonies and memorials are not enough according to Quinn.
“It means remembering that day, every day, to make sure that part of American history never, ever repeats itself,” Quinn said.
In addition to the 9/11 ceremony, read “Moorsetown staffer reflects on 9/11”
