ALBION —
Each year a group gathers in Albion to remember those who lost their lives that September day nine years ago. Holding tributes and candlelight vigils, the Orleans County American Legion has hosted the event to pay tribute to those involved in 9/11.
“It’s our history now,” said one of the event’s organizers Larry Montello. “We want people to remember.”
Like years past, a memorial tribute to the fallen heroes will be held at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Sheret Post No. 35, 131 S. Main St., Albion. People are asked to arrive by 9 a.m. Members of all the American Legion Posts, VFW, Navy Clubs, fire departments, police departments, state police, sheriff’s department and rescue squad in Orleans County will be in attendance.
The ceremony will begin with a police escort given to a 9/11 bike from Walmart to the American Legion. Montello said that representatives of local and county government, along with Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, will be in attendance. He also hopes that a representative from the governor’s office will attend.
The ceremony will include a flag raising, gun salute, playing of Taps and wreath placing. Representatives from county fire departments, police departments, Cova Volunteer Ambulance, Orleans County Sheriff, New York State Police and Mercy Flight Western New York will each be lighting a candle in honor of those who died in the same branch on Sept. 11. Montello said that this year a representative from the Albion Police K-9 Unit will also be lighting a candle in honor of the two K-9 dogs that lost their lives searching for survivors.
Community Action of Orleans and Genesee will be helping with coffee and donuts for those attending.
Following the ceremony will be a free, day long concert in Bullard Park. From at 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., different musical acts will be performing on a large stage set up at the park.
Montello said that they want to make this event bigger each year. Also, with the ten year anniversary next year, Montello said that they wanted to do something special to pay tribute.
Throughout the day music will be played, there will be karaoke and those attending can learn hip hop dancing and country dancing. Bands include Above the Fog and Leo, Ally Way, All 4 Wut, Jason Malachi and Amanda Nagurney. Five food vendors will be on site and a dunk tank will be set up, raising money for a 9/11 tribute stone that the American Legion would like to install at either the county building or at Bullard Park for the 10th anniversary.
At 11:50 a.m. a moment of silence will be given for the 9/11 victims and for Spc. Jason M. Johnston who lost his life in Afghanistan Dec. 26. At 6 p.m. a candlelight vigil service will be held and a huge flag will be flown in the sky above the park.
Montello said that there will be room for about 450 cars to park at Bullard Park. Others can park at either the American Legion, Tops, or the village and a bus will pick people up and take them to the park.
At both the American Legion and Bullard Park, a wood cut figure of two firefighters holding an American flag will be displayed. Created by Wayne Snell, a third figure will be raffled off to raise money for the 10th anniversary tribute stone. Tickets are $1 for one, $2 for three or $5 for an arm length. Tickets will be sold throughout the day.
Nine years ago, 2,823 people, from 90 countries, died in the World Trade Center, 125 died at the Pentagon, 92 in Flight 11, 64 in Flight 175, 64 in Flight 77 and 44 in Flight 93.
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