Remembering the Responders Local service commemorates 20th anniversary of 9/11
T
hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many have experienced renewed appreciation for the sacrifices and contributions of first responders. The Grove City community will continue that appreciation for a different group of first responders as it commemorates the 20th anniversary of 9/11. In Grove City for the last decade, the American Legion Paschall Post 164 and Veterans of Foreign War Post 8198 have held an annual prayer and remembrance service to commemorate the tragic events of 9/11 when hijackers took control of planes that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths including more than 400 firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics who responded to the emergency. “It’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” says Jeff Shipley, the post’s commander.
18 September/October 2021
Service & Monument
alize the lives lost in the terrorist attack The post didn’t begin holding its and on another side for any township annual service until about 10 years ago firefighters who lost their lives in the because of how sensitive the event was line of duty, Little says. for so many Americans in the aftermath, Shipley adds. Remembering Those “(But) we felt we should do something,” he says. “We wanted to remember Who Served Honoring local military all the people who were involved there.” members killed in post-9/11 wars The post held the ceremonies at its in the Middle East: own headquarters in the first few years Jesse M. Balthaser, sergeant, until Jackson Township Fire Station 204 Marine Corps, killed in action, secured a piece of steel recovered from Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2010 the ashes of the World Trade Center in Eric J. Bernholtz, lance corpoNew York City. ral, Marine Corps, killed in The initiative to secure a piece of the action, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2005 towers was led by former Jackson TownShawn T. Hannon, master sership Fire Chief Rick Dawson, says Randy geant, Army, killed in action, Little, the fire department’s current chief. Afghanistan, April 4, 2012 Joseph W. Riley, specialist, Dawson didn’t get far in his mission Army, killed in action, Afghanwith the federal government but found istan, Nov. 24, 2014 success through the Port Authority of Nicholaus E. Zimmer, private New York and New Jersey. In 2013 he first-class, Army, killed in acsucceeded in finding a home in Grove tion, Iraq, May 30, 2004 City for a structural steel H-beam from Joseph A. Cappocciama, serthe north tower. geant, Army, died from comThe three-foot-tall and 125-pound plications of injuries serving in beam is situated on a black granite base Iraq, May 20, 2012 with engravings on one side to memoriwww.DiscoverGroveCity.com
Photos courtesy of Randy Little
By Brandon Klein
