Shock, sacrifice recalled
<p>Coeur dÕAlene veteran Pete Slocum reads the names of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in a Flag of Honor on Wednesday at Post Falls City Hall.</p>
<p>Harold Markiewicz, left, of American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls, plays ÒTapsÓ on the bugle while members of the Patriot Guard Riders present the flags during WednesdayÕs 9-11 Day of Service and Remembrance Ceremony in Post Falls.</p>
<p>Shaena Dunn of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue performs ÒStriking Four Fives,Ó a bell tradition to honor fallen comrades.</p>
As Pete Slocum read the names of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks within a cloth flag, he reflected on what we have and how the tragedies woke us up.
"It's an honor to be an American," the Coeur d'Alene man said softly during Wednesday's ceremony at Post Falls City Hall on the 12th anniversary of the attacks.
"Being a veteran, I have a great deal of emotion at these remembrances. Today we give honor to folks who have given so much."
The ceremony, along with another at the Fallen Heroes Plaza in Coeur d'Alene, paid respect to the 2,996 victims of the attacks.
Several attendees in Post Falls read the names in the Flag of Honor, which was brought to the event by Frank and Betty Ann Henderson.
Debbie Carr said the attacks should have never happened.
"It hits close to home," said Carr, the mother of Taylor Carr of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. "It's still something you don't want to believe."
Carr said the attacks made her appreciate the country more.
"Anything can happen at any time, so we should be aware of that," she said. "It's an honor to be here to show support."
Jeanette Mackin, a retired United Airlines flight attendant, spoke at 8:46 a.m. That was the time in New York City when hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center to start the series of tragedies.
Mackin spoke about the passengers and crew members aboard the four hijacked flights and laid a wreath with Mayor Clay Larkin to remember the victims.
"We shall never forget that day," Mackin said. "May God bless them all."
At both ceremonies, emergency responders were honored for their sacrifice that day and every day.
Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel said Sept. 11 is a "bittersweet" day for his department.
"While we mourn those brave souls who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we also celebrate that same bravery," he said. "I am proud to be in this noble profession. After 9/11 the expectations of our communities have grown. It is our responsibility to provide the service expected of us and exceed those expectations as often as possible."
His department honors the 343 New York City firefighters who lost their lives by wearing that number on their uniforms and with FDNY stickers on every apparatus.
"But more important, we honor their memory by being the best we can be and providing superior service to the community we hold so dear to our hearts," Gabriel said.
Post Falls Police Capt. Pat Knight recognized the efforts of 72 law enforcement from 10 different agencies who died.
"They left us a lasting legacy of honor, duty and service," he said. "We will never forget."
Len Crosby of American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls remembered the 184 lives lost when a plane crashed into the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, the more than 6,000 service members who have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq to fight terror, Gold Star families and wounded warriors.
"We owe unyielding gratitude to our men and women of our armed forces who have died defending our freedom and to those who are serving or have served," Crosby said. "It is important that we keep the memory of Sept. 11 fresh in our community."