Saipan residents ‘never forget’ 9/11 tragedy
Members of the CNMI Medical Reserve Corp. pose for a photo in front of Garapan Fire Station 2 after the Freedom Walk in commemoration of 9/11 last Thursday. (PHOTOS by THOMAS A. MANGLONA II)
Island residents and tourists occupied the streets of Garapan last Thursday as part of the Freedom Walk from the Garapan Fishing Base to the Garapan Fire Station 2 to honor the thousands of lives lost in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The walk also marked the 13th anniversary of the tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania.
The CNMI Bikers Association, Ttransportation Security Adiminstration, CNMI Guardians, Public School System, Community Emergency Response Center, Mount Carmel School, and the CNMI Medical Reserve Corp. joined several public officials march down Garapan while countless tourists lined the streets to take photos.
“Thirteen years ago today, deliberate and atrocious acts affected us all,” Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider said in his opening remarks. “Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing on Sept. 11. Images of that fateful day are forever engraved in our minds. We come together with our fellow citizens in the spirit of patriotism and remind ourselves to never forget.”
A member of the organization known as the CNMI Guardians told Saipan Tribune that the events of 9/11 did not only change airport security, but America all together. “We still have people fighting the fight to prevent further terror attacks in order for us to enjoy freedom today,” she added.
Lance Deleon Guerrero, a junior Mount Carmel student, said, “Even though I was only a toddler during the tragic event, I feel for everyone who is affected even more than a decade later.”
For one member of the CNMI Medical Reserve Corps, Thursday’s march was personal. “In 2001 a lot of the responders wanted to come and help but they did not know how to respond to such a chaotic situation. …After 9/11 we formed the Medical Corps and learn how to respond to major disasters. This is how we commemorate all the fallen people of 9/11 and we continuously do that on a daily basis now.”
Police cars and fire trucks sounded their sirens for 13 seconds to conclude the event, symbolizing the 13th year since the terror attacks.
We will never forget. Thank you Lt. Governor for the kind, and very well said remarks.