The American flag is raised to half-staff Friday during the 9/11 memorial ceremony held outside the Sammy Cox Law Enforcement Center at Robeson Community College. More than 60 faculty, staff, students and first responders attended the event to pay tribute to first responders and civilians who lost their lives two decades ago during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Tomeka Sinclair | The Robesonian
Robeson County law enforcement fire a 21-gun salute to honor the first responders heroes who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, during a ceremony held outside the Sammy Cox Law Enforcement Center at Robeson Community College.
Tomeka Sinclair | The Robesonian
LUMBERTON — “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”
Those are words from Virgil, an ancient Roman poet, displayed on an art installation in the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. They also are the words quoted Friday by Robert Ivey, director of the fire and rescue training program at Robeson Community College, during an annual ceremony held to honor first responders and civilians who lost their lives two decades ago during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“We pause today to remember. We remember the 2,753 people that died at ground zero in New York, we remember the 184 people that died at the Pentagon, and we remember the heroes of Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.” Ivey said. “They give us a total of 2,977 people that lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.”
Before the Robeson County Executive Law Enforcement Officers’ Association Fallen Officers Memorial, RCC Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets and members of local public safety and emergency services agencies, and local community residents paid homage with the laying of a wreath, a presentation of the colors, a 21-gun salute, the playing of taps and a rendition of “Amazing Grace” played on bagpipes by Lumberton Fire Department’s Tobias Epps, all outside the RCC’s Sammy Cox Basic Law Enforcement Building.
Before leading the invocation, Lumberton Police Chief John McNeill recalled being at RCC teaching a Basic Law Enforcement class when he heard the news.
“We rushed to the television to see what was going on. I believe we got to see that second plane hit,” McNeill said. “It was a devastating and tragic time for this nation.”
Friday’s ceremony was livestreamed and can be viewed on RCC’s Facebook page.
The City of Lumberton Fire Department will hold its fifth annual Remembrance Walk on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to remember the firefighters who lost their lives during 9/11 or who have since experienced health complications or have died of health complications related to that day.
The walk will begin and end at Lumberton Downtown Plaza. Registration is required on-site before the walk, which is expected to draw about 100 people.
“We’re walking 3.43 miles to recognize the 343 firefighters that perished in Sept. 11,” Interim Fire Chief Chris West said. “We’re paying tribute. It’s something that we started years ago and it seems to be on a little bit of a larger scale this year.”
Lumberton Fire Department firefighters will be leading the walk while dressed in turnout gear, just as the firefighters wore on Sept. 11, 2001. Battalion Chief Jonathan Inman said there will be 75 lanyards for firefighters that participate representing the 75 departments that responded to the 9/11 attacks.
The event is geared toward firefighters but the public is encouraged to participate in the walk and show support.
Several stops will be set up during the walk for breaks, including the Biggs Park Mall and Cape Fear Farm Credit parking lots. Happenings On Elm and residents of the Elm Street community will assist by passing out water, and Top That Dessert Bar will hand out treats. BB&T, Lumbee Guaranty Bank and First Bank have donated water.
“We want to send a message that 20 years ago we said ‘We wouldn’t forget’ and we’re not going to forget,” Inman said. “This is a way for us to prove that.”
The event is sponsored by the Lumberton Firefighters Association.
