Passing the Sept. 11 torch

POST FALLS - Tyler Hall was just 1 year old during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

While the River City Middle School eighth-grader was too young to remember the tragedies, he has visual reminders that strike close to home.

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"My uncle had a sister on one of the flights," Hall said softly. "I didn't know her as a kid, but I have pictures of me with her."

Youth played a prominent role in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance ceremony at the Post Falls City Hall plaza on a sunny but chilly Thursday, the 13th anniversary of the attacks.

Teens, police, firefighters, Patriot Guard Riders, veterans and city officials held flags and laid a wreath remembering the nearly 3,000 victims in the four attacks.

"It's nice to see this go on," Hall said after the ceremony, which was attended by about 100 people.

Other students said they also have direct or indirect ties to the attacks.

A friend of Darien Conrad's father was across the street from the World Trade Center during the attacks. Other students acknowledged the sacrifices their veteran relatives made to defend our freedoms.

River City teacher Kevin Hauck said the ceremony was a history lesson for the students and an unofficial passing of the torch.

"We're all part of this country and they're going to have to carry on the remembrance," Hauck said.

Post Falls' Connie Lewis attended a 9/11 ceremony for the first time and said she's glad she did.

"Looking at these flags warms your heart," she said. "It gives you goose bumps. I hope that we can all band together and be one nation under God."

Lewis said with all the tragedies in the world today, it's refreshing to see people still come together to honor sacrifices and pay respect to those lost.

Post Falls veteran John Petersen described the ceremony as "part of our country."

"I gave 20-plus years in the military; my father gave 20-plus years," he said. "It's in our system. I think a lot of people forget (about the attacks), but this helps them remember."

Petersen said the attacks froze most people, including himself, in their tracks.

"I was working on a house and the lady I was doing the work for said to come watch TV because buildings were falling," he said. "We had a cup of coffee and watched. I couldn't believe planes were crashing into buildings."

Smith said the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 will forever be heroes to her for attempting to overcome hijackers and preventing even more deaths. The plane, headed to Washington, D.C., crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa.

Post Falls police Capt. Pat Knight remembered the 72 law enforcement personnel from 10 agencies who died during the attacks.

"They left us a lasting legacy of honor, duty and service that we will never forget," Knight said.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Division Chief Dan Ryan honored the 343 firefighters and emergency personnel lost. "Striking of the Four Fives," a firefighter bell tradition, was performed to pay respect to those who died.

American Legion Post 143 Commander Steve Hanson said the attacks were humbling. He had only been in the military for a year and was feeling "bulletproof and 10 feet tall."

"Now I don't feel 10 feet tall, just bulletproof," Hanson quipped.

Pastor Mark McWhorter said no matter what feelings people have about 9/11 - anger, grief, respect or fear - he hopes they don't take freedom for granted.

"Those freedoms have come at a great cost," he said.