Carmel Fire Department and Carmel Farmers Market to Host 20th Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11
August 2021
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States. For Americans old enough to remember that horrific day and the subsequent days that followed, we remember the countless acts of bravery, sacrifice, humanity and patriotism that immediately followed the devastation. Those diabolical acts claimed the lives of 2,977 people and injured thousands more at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
We remember the saturation of American flags that lined countless bumpers and rear windows and that flew from practically every house in every community throughout the nation and were even displayed in homes in sympathetic countries across the globe.
We remember where we were at exactly at 8:46 a.m., Sept. 11, 2001, when we got word that United Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower. Thinking it was just a horrific accident, many of us continued our morning routines. I personally remember being out of sorts earlier that morning and seeing the date on my pager—9/11/01. I can even recall thinking how closely the date stamp resembled 911. Little did we know that just a few moments after the first plane flew into the North Tower, our nation would be officially under attack. The securities that we had enjoyed throughout our lives—while nestled in our communities throughout the continental U.S.—would be destroyed in a literal New York minute, and we’d be left standing in shock, just like a child who had their security blanket yanked from their hands.
As history has it recorded, the carnage continued with the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 175 that flew into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. and United Airlines Flight 93 that went down outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its courageous passengers and crew stormed the cockpit, thwarting the terrorists’ plan.
Americans and nations throughout the world were stunned. And for a significant period, we came together as one nation—united and indivisible.
On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, the Carmel Farmers Market (CFM) and Carmel Fire Department (CFD) are inviting the community to gather onto Third Avenue Southwest, at Carter Green (site of the farmers market), near the Veterans Memorial, for a commemoration ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
A Commemoration for the Ages
CFD’s own Renee Butts is organizing the ceremony along with CFD Chief Haboush, John Moriarty, Adam Harrington, Deborah Schmitz, Susan Bock, Terry Skillen, Brian Smith and Ron Carter.
CFM President Ron Carter said, “I have been to every one of the [9/11 ceremonies] services that have been organized by CFD at headquarters [CFD Station 41] and have always found them to be very moving ceremonies with about 100–200 in attendance. We saw this opportunity for the market to collaborate with CFD to produce this remembrance ceremony and expose it to a much larger number of people.”
Carter shared that the market will be closed during the duration of the ceremony and will reopen after the conclusion of the program and will run until noon that day.
CFD Public Education Officer Renee Butts is going on her 25th year of service with CFD. Her husband, Joe Butts, and son Andrew “Drew” Butts are also firefighters with CFD.
Butts is one of the key organizers collaborating with Carter and the CFM volunteers, and she shared some of her reflections on 9/11.
“I was on duty that day it happened,” Butts recalled. “I was at station 4, and I came walking through what we called the ‘day room’ where the TV was. I remember how everyone thought it was just an accident at first. It was just surreal. It’s been 20 years, and it’s still very emotional and overwhelming. It’s one of those events that you will always remember for the rest of your life, like when people talk about the end of World War II, when President Kennedy was shot or the moon landing. People will always remember 9/11. The country was united, and we all stood together. There was such a level of patriotism.”
The CFD Pipes and Drums band will lead the marketgoers, vendors and attendees toward the west end of Carter Green onto Third Avenue Southwest—in front of the Veterans Memorial—at the beginning of the program. Two ladder trucks will hoist the Garrison Flag over the crowd. After announcements have been made, the ceremony will begin at 8:46 a.m. with the first NYPD/NYFD radio calls from the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, playing over the speaker system. A complete itinerary of the ceremony is listed below.
We hope that you will join us for this community commemoration honoring the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
For a complete list of CFM vendors and scheduled entertainment, visit carmelfarmersmarket.com.
7:45–7:55 Closing of the street in front of the Veterans Memorial
8:30–8:35 Pipes/Drums and Firefighters proceed west in the south aisle of the market
Firefighters move to their places to the south of the walkway leading up to the Veterans Memorial statue. Police officers move to their places north of the walkway leading up to the Veterans Memorial statue. Third Avenue Southwest, Carter Green.
8:30–8:35 First announcement to the market guests and vendors regarding the ceremony
Announcement that guests and vendors are requested to move to the west end of the green and onto Third Avenue for the ceremony. Also announcing that the market will be closing promptly at 8:35. Ceremony will begin promptly at 8:46 with the first NYPD/NYFD radio calls on that morning.
8:46 Radio calls are played over the CFD speaker system, Veterans Memorial Plaza
8:46–9:10 Ceremony takes place, Veterans Memorial Plaza
9:15 Market reopens with announcement and ringing of the market bell. Market runs to noon on this day, Carter Green
Writer:
Janelle Morrison
Photography:
Courtesy of CFD