Meg Hibbert
Contributing writerthat
Flags waved against a background of keening of bagpipes, wreaths laid in remembrance and some tears as the “Together We Remember” ceremony was held outside Salem Fire Station 1. In the background were twisted twin beams from one of New York’s World Trade Towers.
Almost 200 people of all ages gathered to pay tribute to the 2,977 men, women and children who died in the plane attacks on the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and where passengers took control to fight back and crash another plane outside Shanksville, Pa.
Tom Roseberry remembered that day when he first took over as Salem Assistant Fire Chief. “We can’t ever forget,” he said watching the ceremony. “We spent the day watching the coverage.” He had family in New York at the time and was concerned for them. They were safe.
Rob Dixon from New Jersey, said he did electrician work in buildings that overlooked the World Trade Towers. “I was at a deli watching when one of the buildings went down,” Dixon said. He and his wife Beth were visiting Salem last week.
Salem, Roanoke and Roanoke City public safety personnel and retirees laid the first of three wreaths at the foot of the twisted steel beams. Salem Fire/EMS Chief Stephen Simon praised the hundreds of fire and rescue people “who ran toward the danger to save lives.”
The events on 9/11 “transformed our nation forever,” Simon said. “We saw a country united in tragedy…People helped each other and stood shoulder to shoulder.”
Salem Police Chief Derek Weeks, Sheriff Chris Shelor, regional sheriffs and other law enforcement officers placed the second wreath.
Local elected officials, county officials and city managers placed the third wreath in memory of 9/11 victims, accompanied by a combined honor guard.
Roanoke Fire and EMS Chief David Hoback noted “First responders face more dangerous conditions than ever before. Our goal is to save lives and protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost.”
Salem-area bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” before the tolling of the historic Salem Fire Bell.
