Hunterdon County gathers to remember those lost and honors heroes at 9/11 remembrance ceremony
Hunterdon County Will Never Forget
FLEMINGTON BOROUGH, NJ (Hunterdon County) – The Hunterdon County Commissioners on Monday joined Sheriff Fred Brown, members of the local law enforcement and first responder communities, along with other officials on the front steps of the Hunterdon County Justice Center, at the corner of Court Street and Park Avenue in Flemington, for Sheriff Brown’s Annual Hunterdon County 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.
Colonel Patrick Callahan, the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, served as the Guest Speaker for the ceremony. Colonel Callahan is a 28-year veteran of the State Police who has served as Superintendent since 2017 and is recognized and respected as a highly experienced law enforcement leader.
Sheriff Brown, who reinitiated the 9/11 Remembrance event in 2017, has led the ceremonies in Hunterdon County every year since then, said, “While the Historic Courthouse is undergoing preservation work it was decided to hold the ceremonies at the Justice Center. The commemoration which remembers all those lost on September 11, 2001, particularly the sixteen Hunterdon County residents who perished that day, is too significant not to be continued.”
“Each year as we honor the memory of those who perished in the attacks of September 11th, 2001; those lost at the World Trade Center, including close to 400 first responders and law enforcement officers, those killed in the Pentagon attack, the heroes on United Airlines flight 93, and those innocent passengers aboard American Airlines Flights 11 and 77, and United Airlines Flight 175 that day. It is vital that they be remembered,” Brown said.
Legislative members and County Officials included Assemblyman Erik Peterson, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Roy Freiman, County Clerk Mary Melfi, and County Prosecutor Renee Robeson. Reverend David Erickson of Old Rocks Church provided the invocation and Clinton Fire Department and Hunterdon County Fire Chiefs Association Chaplain, Larry Coyne gave the Benediction. The Hunterdon Harmonizers opened with ‘God Bless The USA’ to lead off the ceremony.
Chiefs and officers from the Hunterdon County Law Enforcement community, Rescue Squads, and Volunteer Fire Companies joined the Remembrance ceremony. Dan Torrone, volunteered to serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event.
The tolling of the bell 16 times to commemorate the 16 Hunterdon County residents who were lost in the September 11th attacks, was followed by a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace, by James Curry of the Somerset County Pipes and Drums.
“It is essential that we recall the events of 9/11 were terrorist attacks that murdered thousands, by enemies of our nation, of our values, our freedoms, and our way of life. This ceremony takes place to ensure that neither time, nor revisionist history alters those facts. Hunterdon County will Never Forget!,” Brown said.
