With sirens, songs and speeches, Morris Plains on Monday observed the 21st anniversary of the terror attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
The sirens rang six times between 8:46 and 10:28 a.m., marking the impact of hijacked jetliners into the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon; the crash in Shanksville, PA, of a plane on which passengers fought the terrorists; and the collapse of each tower.
Borough schoolchildren sang America the Beautiful and God Bless America.
And volunteer firefighter Greg Manning, a retired member of the New York Fire Department Special Operations Unit, shared his memories of that infamous day, before a large crowd gathered beneath a charred beam from the Trade Center.
“We will never forget,” proclaims a sign at the borough’s 9/11 memorial park, at the intersection of Routes 53 and 202.
Slideshow photos by Dave Sullivan. Click/hover on images for captions:
Morris Plains lost Eileen Marsha Greenstein, 52, on 9/11. She worked in the claims department at Aon in the World Trade Center; she was among nine Greater Morristown residents and 64 from Morris County killed in the attacks.
Borough police and firefighters, the Morris Minute Men and veterans from Watnong VFW Post 3401 participated in raising flags to half-mast on Monday.
Dignitaries included Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Dist.) and borough council members. Mayor Jason Karr gave Manning an honorary key to Morris Plains.
An invocation was delivered by VFW Chaplain Plummer Williams; the Rev. Danielle Baker of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gave a benediction.
Elementary school students Stephanie Diamond, Benjamin Ross and Addison Emge recited poems.
Morris County also held a service, on Sunday evening at the 9/11 Memorial on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills.
Our thanks to photographer Dave Sullivan.
Greater Morristown victims on 9/11:
MORRIS PLAINS
Eileen Marsha Greenstein
MORRISTOWN
Martin Paul Michelstein
Richard C. Rescorla
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
Sean Patrick Lynch
Alfred Russell Maler
William A. Mathesen
Alexander Napier Jr.
Barbara A. Shaw
Edward W. Straub