Marylanders Honor 9/11 Victims, 18 Years Later
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- First responders from around Maryland are honoring the victims of September 11, 2001 -- including fellow first responders -- 18 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93 took the lives of 2,977 people.
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In Parkville, Baltimore County firefighters held a ceremony Wednesday morning by ringing bells in honor of the victims.
At Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport, a moment of silence was observed throughout the airport and the security checkpoints.
The BWI Fire Department also held a ceremony Wednesday morning to remember this solemn day.
In Harford County, Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler and the sheriff's deputies joined county officials for a moment of silence.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump held a moment of silence on the White House lawn Wednesday at 8:46 a.m. the time the South Tower was first struck by a plane.
Trump later attended a ceremony for victims families and federal employees at the Pentagon where he spoke to the crowd.
The moment of silence is traditionally observed at 9:37 a.m. — the exact time when a plane crashed into the Defense Department's headquarters on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 184 people. But this year's ceremony ran late, and the anniversary was observed at 9:47 a.m.
The commander in chief told families that "this is your anniversary of personal and permanent loss" and he said that their "loved ones will never ever be forgotten."
When he arrived at the Pentagon, he was greeted by Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The president placed a wreath of red, white and blue flowers at the memorial site.
Service projects were held across areas of Maryland, including in Annapolis and Catonsville.
Scrubbing off veteran gravestones, tree planting and gardening were just some of the ways that Marylanders gave back to their communities to remember those who gave so much on 9/11.
"It's pretty special to clean their graves even if their families might not be here anymore to remember them," said Megan Shuster.
Baltimore National and Annapolis cemeteries were just two of the 40 cemeteries where volunteers cleaned the headstones and area grounds.
Vietnam veteran Peter Konold was one of the 18 volunteers in Catonsville on Wednesday, who said it's important to volunteer to commemorate the 9/11 first responders and those that fought before and after 9/11.
"It's a day in which the nation focuses on volunteers, the first responders is what first comes to mind. Those who are willing to go in harm's way and those ultimately sometimes to pay the price," Konold said.
Volunteers at the Oliver Community Farm also took part in the 9/11 date of service and cleaned up a lot and gardened to remember those that lost their lives.
"It's great to remember those especially on 9/11 who paid the ultimate price," A volunteer said.
In Annapolis, community clean up and a 9/11 Remembrance 5K also were held at Quiet Waters Park.
Governor Larry Hogan declared September 11 through October 10 as Day To Serve Month in Maryland so more events will be held in the coming weeks to remember 9/11 victims and heroes.
