MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Craig Stough  9/11/2006

 

"Patriot's Day – Remembering 9/11/2001"

 

The City of Sylvania held its Patriot's Day Ceremony on September 11, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. in River Centre Park at Main and Monroe Streets.  The event was well attended with several local dignataries, veterans, fire fighters, police officers, Town Crier Mike Leiber, two Sylvania Township Fire Department bagpipers, and the Northview Band in attendance.

 

The Ceremony was short, but allowed us to pause and remember the 9/11 attacks, connecting us with ceremonies being held around the country.  Following are the short remarks I made, which I would like to share with you:

 

"It is right and fitting we are assembled here, joining with millions across America to pause and remember the events of five years ago.  There are assemblies like this one, some larger and some smaller, in New York City, in Washington D.C., in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, around northwest Ohio and all around the country.

 

The 21st Century began with this terrible attack on 9/11/2001.  Our lives are changed everyday as a result of the threat of terrorism.  Travel is more difficult and some feel we have sacrificed some of our freedoms in response to terrorism.  Our emergency responders have new equipment, new training and new missions.  Please recognize the fire fighters and police officers present with us today.

 

We are reminded there are others in this world who hate America for our way of life, for our freedoms, for our diversity and for our equality.  They profess the need to destroy America and our way of life.

 

Some Americans are paying a greater price to preserve our freedom.  Many of our young people from Sylvania have voluntarily joined the armed forces to serve freedom – people from all over our community – Andy Eckert, Matthew Drake, our neighbor's children, our town crier's daughter, a former councilman's two children, Camp Miakonda director's son, my business secretary's son, and so many more.  Please recognize the veterans present with us today.

 

So during this 9/11/2006 ceremony, let us mourn those who died or lost loved ones on or since 9/11/2001.  And on this Patriot's Day, 2006 let us also remember and honor those patriots among us who have served or who are serving in the cause of freedom."