Hundreds Gather in Wyandotte to Honor the Fallen, Rekindle National Unity

Wyandotte resident Chris Furchak thought of Sept. 11, 2001, this summer every time she saw a clear blue sky.

“I remember the blue sky that day as I was going in to work,” she said.

She remembers, too, the sad days after the infamous terrorist attack on the nation.

“I remember going through the neighborhoods and seeing all the flags,” she said.

A feeling of national unity was strong then, and she wanted a way to remind the people of her town and her country not only of the attack, but also of the country’s accord in the days thereafter.

She went to Mayor Joseph Peterson some weeks ago to suggest a citywide ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the day now known as 9/11. She wanted not only to honor the memory of the 2,976 Americans who fell that day, but also to bring back the sense of patriotism and unity that followed the attack.

, and was on the phone bringing it together before she even had left his office, she said.

Her idea became a reality this morning, when hundreds gathered at Wyandotte Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1136.

Among those was retired Brownstown Township police Officer Mike Gerard of Rockwood with some fellow members of the Warthogs, a motorcycle club made up of police and firefighters, present and retired.

“You have to remember things like this,” Gerard said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years.”

Sandi Adamski of Wyandotte was there, too, in order “to commemorate the fallen,” she said. “To not remember would be in error. It’s very sad. But it’s a good thing that people are remembering, and to teach the kids.”

Some of the parents at the ceremony brought their children along to commemorate the fallen and to teach the kids about what had happened. Many of those children weren’t alive when the hijacked jets struck the towers in New York City and the Pentagon and crashed in Pennsylvania.

Veronica Chandler of Lincoln Park was one of those parents who brought young children to the ceremony. She had Iris, Charlie and Liliana with her. Their aunt, Carol Chandler, 17, a senior at , read a poem she penned entitled 3,652 Days during the ceremony to honor the anniversary of that fateful day.

Wyandotte firefighter Jeremy Moline had a hard time describing the importance of honoring the memory of those who fell on 9/11. The victims that day included 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and eight paramedics—first responders who ran into harm’s way to save lives while everyone else ran away to find safety.

“I don’t even know if I can put it into words,” Moline said with emotion. “I remember it like it was yesterday.”

He, like Furchak, also remembers how the country came together after the attack, and hoped the ceremony would serve as a reminder of that, as well as honoring the victims who fell.

Moline has an 8-year-old daughter, Stella, who celebrates her birthday on 9/11.

"Obviously, my daughter's birthday is a great day for me, but then there's always the other significance of the day that you'll never forget," he said. "As horrible of a day as it was, it was the first time in my life that I saw everyone put their differences aside and come together. It means a lot of different things to different people. In the end, I think it made us stronger and closer."

The hundreds in attendance gave their respect as Old Glory was lowered, and a fire truck’s siren and air horn blasted at 8:47 a.m.—the time the first hijacked jet hit the first tower 10 years ago. The children in the crowd opened their eyes wide when the blast of noise was heard.

Military veterans, firefighters and police officers spoke, and voices were raised in singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic and God Bless America. A fire bell was rung in remembrance of “fallen brothers,” and a bagpiper played Amazing Grace.

Angie Kane Ferrante of Wyandotte was amongst the group of singers.

"I think remembering Sept. 11 is important because of our history and the people who not only lost their lives, but the people all around the country who stopped everything to rebuild," she said. "I know it's something I will never forget."

Tears had filled many eyes by the time Taps was played and a final prayer was offered.

“Let us continue to say God bless America,” Furchak said.

Wyandotte Cable filmed the ceremony and will begin airing it at 1 p.m. today on Channel 15.