9/11 remembered

COEUR d’ALENE — Where where you the morning of Sept. 11, 2001?

In North Idaho, many were in the middle of their morning routines when the news broke and the world ground to a halt. But Ken Johnson was more than 2,400 miles away from Kootenai County — already at work in the Pentagon.

A solemn crowd of first responders, elected officials and Kootenai County residents gathered Monday morning at the Silver Lake Mall to recognize those who died on 9/11 and who were lost in the years that followed.

“Without our remembrance, this life-changing part of our history will be washed away,” Johnson said.

After 34 years of combined military and federal service, Johnson retired and moved to Rathdrum. He continues to serve with American Legion Post 154. And he shares his story of survival not only to preserve history, but to honor the lives of the victims, including one particularly close to his heart.

“The mothers, fathers, children, grandparents and yes, the occasional fiancée that perished,” Johnson said, fighting back tears.

His fiancée, Molly McKenzie, also worked at the Pentagon. Her office was in the direct path of the hijacked plane, and she is among those lost that day.

Above all, Johnson said he wants to remember the days following 9/11, when Americans came together and drew strength from one another like never before.

“Patriotism will always be stronger than terrorism,” he said.

During the ceremony, the crowd also honored the families of people who died during military service.

Among those Gold Star family members was Theresa Hart, who founded the Post Falls-based nonprofit Newby-ginnings after her son, Nicholas Newby, was killed in action in Iraq on July 7, 2011. Newby-ginnings provides free resources and supplies to local veterans in need.

Reading from a journal entry she penned Sept. 11, 2013, Hart reflected on seeing live coverage of the attacks as her sons were getting ready for school. They watched, feeling sick and overwhelmed, as the second plane hit.

“A war would start the next month in Afghanistan as a result of this horrific act of terror,” she said. “In March of 2003, the war spread to Iraq. I had no idea that my then 11-year-old son would go away to that faraway place as a young man, nine years later, and die when an IED hit his convoy.”

Nick Newby was the 4,471st U.S. casualty in Iraq.

“I love you, Nick, and I miss you more and more,” Hart said.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris became emotional when he addressed the crowd.

On 9/11, Norris was working in a community where violent crime was common. But in the aftermath of the attacks, something mysterious happened.

“Crime came to a halt and a sense of national community was born,” Norris said. “Boy, do we need that today. Our nation rallied together as one.”

More than 20 years later, Norris said law enforcement and the larger community still mourn with the families of those who died on 9/11.

“The loss you have endured drives us in our mission today and every day to keep everyone safe,” he said.