WTC 9/11 Remnant Ceremony at the Western Pocono Public Library Brodheadsville 9/11/2016

Western Pocono Community Library dispalys 9/11 artifact

In January of this year, Carol Kern, Director of the Western Pocono Community Library began thinking of ways to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks in New York, Schnecksville and the Pentagon. That is when she decided to contact the Port Authority of New York and request a piece of history.

On Sunday the library unveiled a piece of twisted, melted metal that was once part of the Twin Towers in Lower Manhattan. The artifact, weighing 1.84 pounds will be housed in the Heritage Center of the Library along with the original painting entitled “She Shed Tears” which was donated to the library by artist Anibal Collazo in honor of the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

Kern welcomed about 125 guests to the ceremony. Those present included members of the Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA, the 9/11 Tribute Trike, West End Community Ambulance, West End Fire Company Unit 34, Blue Ridge Hook and Ladder Unit 23, Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network, Zion United Lutheran Church and the Miller-Keystone blood Center.

Collazo was on hand again this year with a number of his 9/11 inspired paintings, including the “Parade of Heroes” which was used as the cover art of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral program on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Collazo is retired from Engine Company 35 in East Harlem, New York, and is a resident of the West End.

The ceremony began with Dirk Carmichael playing a solemn tribute on the bagpipes. Members of the Zion United Lutheran Church choir and library’s StoryBook Theatre sang “America the Beautiful and “Amazing Grace.”

Emily Gethen contributed to the ceremony with a solo rendition of “God Bless America.”

“At the time of the 9/11 occurrence each of us stopped short in our tracks as we heard the horrific news over the airways, and I am sure you can each recall where you were and what you were doing at that moment of disbelief that this was really happening in America,” Kern said.

“Now 15 years after the attacks we acknowledge the resiliency of our nation and its people.”

“For Monroe County we know that five commuters who stepped on the bus that morning for work did not return on that evening bus ride.”

The ceremony included an invocation by the Rev. E. Ann Melot of Zion United Lutheran Church.

Members of the Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA stood below an American Flag draped between two hook and ladder trucks.

“It is a complete honor to be here,” said the group’s ride captain Glen Potter. “My best friend is a 9/11 first responder and it is an honor for me to be here for him. It is like Pearl Harbor, America will never forget, we won’t let it.”

“This is just a small way to say ‘thank you’,” said Mike Burritt, Lehigh Valley coordinator for Warrior Watch. “There were 343 fire fighters who lost their lives 15 years ago. We stand with them.”

The Warrior Watch Riders of NEPA keep busy with welcome home and sendoffs, funerals, and nursing home visits for veterans.

Kerns was pleased with the ceremony.

“It could not have been better,” she said. “We really wanted our community to be a part of this and it all went so well.”

The above Story and Photos are from the Times News

Western Pocono Community library displays 9/11 artifact

By Howard Frank Pocono Record Writer

A bagpiper played simple melodies, as the warble of its deep drone echoed the solemn nature of the moment. Ladders from fire trucks rose into the air, as honor guards held flags in a show of national pride.

On the lawn on the south side of the Western Pocono Community Library, a melted, rusted metal shard sat in a display case. It was a remnant from the fallen World Trade Center, the centerpiece of a program held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

Library Director Carol Kern described receiving a crate in New York, identified only as F0021068. It wasn’t until she removed the seal from the wooden crate back in Brodheadsville that she knew exactly what it contained.

The foot long shredded metal was mounted on a slice of tree trunk, lacquered to a shiny finish that offset the bleakness of the artifact.

Sunday afternoon’s program included a choir of school children dressed in white shirts and black pants, moving the audience of more than 100 with America the Beautiful and God Bless American. Even the Pledge of Allegiance took on special meaning this day.

“I’m here with my church to really honor and remember those who lost their lives on 9/11,” Carol Visceglia of Saylorsburg said. “I just needed to come.”

The day took on special meaning for Peggy Quigley, also of Saylorsburg. She lost a friend, a Port Authority Police officer on 9/11. Her husband, now retired, was a police officer too.

A few dozen members of the Warriors Watch Riders attended the memorial. It staged the honor guard.

“We are a bunch of volunteers who travel to show the military they are much appreciated, and this is one of the ways, to flag the ceremony,” member Danny Stetzel of Allentown said.

The Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network collected donations of canned goods for its food pantry, and blood donations were taken in a large RV parked in the library’s lot.

The relic from the twin towers will be on permanent display at the library, along with photographs and articles telling of the horrific day no one will ever forget.

The above Story and Photos are from the Pocono Record