By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – A remembrance of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 will take place 15 years to the day after the tragic events unfolded at three locations in the eastern United States. A ceremony has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at the municipal building, 121 Evergreen Road, Plumsted.
All community members are invited to attend the service.
The service will be commemorated by the public unveiling of a piece of steel from the destroyed World Trade Center towers in lower Manhattan. Two hijacked airplanes were flown into the twin towers, bringing down the structures and killing thousands of people on a clear Tuesday morning.
A second attack occurred at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Va., when a hijacked airplane was flown into the building that is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Nearly 200 people died at that location.
A fourth hijacked airplane was brought down in Shanksville, Pa., when passengers fought back against the terrorists who had taken control of the plane from the crew. No one survived the plane’s crash into the Pennsylvania countryside.
Authorities later said it is possible the terrorists’ plan may have been to fly that hijacked aircraft into the White House or the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Mayor Jack Trotta said that due to the efforts of state Assemblyman Ron Dancer – Plumsted’s former mayor and its current business administrator – the municipality received a piece of steel from the destroyed World Trade Center. The steel has been kept in storage until now, according to the mayor.
Beginning Sept. 11, the steel will be on permanent display in a case in the lobby of the municipal building, Evergreen Road.
“The Township Committee and I thought the 15th anniversary of the attacks would be an appropriate time to display the piece of steel the township possesses,” Trotta said. “Several months ago we appointed a committee to decide how to display it. Our municipal clerk, Dorothy Hendrickson, our assistant treasurer, Sharon Gower, and I served on this committee.
“I cannot believe it has been 15 years already,” he said. “I still remember the sight of the smoke billowing out of the towers that morning as I drove to work on the turnpike. The public is invited to join us on Sept. 11 when the display is unveiled. Our local police, fire and first aid members have been invited to attend this service.”
