Tega Cay residents gathered at Catawba Park on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, falling silent at 8:46 a.m., the moment the first hijacked plane struck the World Trade Center.
The ceremony remembered the 2,977 people killed in the attacks, among them the first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center and the civilians in the towers, at the Pentagon and aboard the four hijacked airliners. A combined honor guard from the Tega Cay Fire Department, the Tega Cay Police Department and the Tega Cay Veterans Association presented the colors and stood watch over rows of flags placed in the park, one for each of the 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, eight paramedics and 85 military personnel killed that day.
City Manager Charlie Funderburk welcomed those in attendance.
Remembering the Lost
Mayor Carmen Miller spoke about the events of that morning and the people who never came home. She remembered the fallen and the families who lost a loved one, and she paid tribute to the first responders who ran toward the danger to save others while sacrificing their own lives.
A Bell for the Fallen
Fire Chief Glyn Hasty spoke about the bravery of the first responders and the sacrifices they made on 9/11. Hasty then led members of his department in a bell ceremony honoring the fallen. In the fire service, the ringing of a bell has long been used to mark the death of a firefighter in the line of duty.
The department also led the moment of silence at 8:46 a.m.
Cynthia Striegel performed the national anthem.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
