Courthouse memorial recalls 9/11 and its heroes
The Rev. Mark Sholtis of Normalville United Methodist Church spoke and sang at a memorial service in front of the Fayette County Courthouse on Friday.
.
Wayne Sanders of Common Ground Ministries from Oklahoma and the Rev. Margaret Frey of Mountaintop Faith Ministries in Westmoreland County. Frey coordinated the 9/11 memorial service Friday in front of the Fayette County Courthouse.
The Rev. Randy Winemiller, pastor of Poplar Run Church of God of Prophecy in White, Saltlick Township and New Beginnings Church of God of Prophecy in Everson, speaks at the service in front of the Fayette County Courthouse on Friday.
The Rev. Margaret Frey said quietly but succinctly, “Ten years ago, on a sunny morning, Sept. 11, 2001, our country was changed forever.”
Frey, pastor of Mountaintop Faith Ministries in Westmoreland County, served as master of ceremonies for a 9/11 memorial service at noon Friday in front of the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown. She has been coordinating this service on the anniversary for the past several years as the public gathers to pray for those who lost their lives.
“It was a day that changed America but in no way defeated America,” said Frey.
She recalled the history of 19 terrorists who hijacked four American airliners and used them as weapons. They crashed two into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., but the passengers overcame the terrorists in a fourth plane before it could reach its destination and Flight 93 crashed in a field in Somerset County.
For the feelings of despair that the attacks provoked, Frey noted, “It was also a day of hope as we watched Americans come together in love and generosity to those in need.”
Common Ground Ministries of Oklahoma once again provided music for the service.
Fayette County Sheriff Gary Brownfield spoke, saying, “It’s with great pride and humility that I stand here as we humbly pause as a nation to remember.”
Brownfield spoke of those who sacrificed their lives as well as those who continue to risk their lives to save others, including first-responders who worked valiantly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and most recently after Hurricane Irene. He said America must always remember its military and veterans.
And he reminded people that whether they serve in a classroom or city hall, “As Americans, we should all be patriots.”
The service included the stories of four heroes of 9/11: Rick Rescorla, director of security for Morgan-Stanley; New York City police officer Moira Smith; and New York fire marshal Ronald Bucca, who all died in the World Trade Center as they rescued others, as well as businessman Tom Burnett, who worked with other passengers on Flight 93 to foil the terrorists’ plot.
The Rev. Randy Winemiller, pastor of Poplar Run Church of God of Prophecy in Saltlick Township and New Beginnings Church of God of Prophecy in Everson, was among those telling the stories.
Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink said, “Ten years ago, our lives were torn apart, but we were brought together as a nation.”
The Rev. Mark Sholtis, pastor of Normalville United Methodist Church, closed the service with a song called “Let Freedom Ring.”