OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Overland Park's 9/11 memorial continued its annual tradition of hosting a ceremony to remember the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but the 19th anniversary on Friday looked much different this year.
Out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the public were not allowed to attend the ceremony. First responders from the Overland Park police and fire departments participated, wearing masks for the duration of the event.
"Ten years ago when we made promises to the New York Port Authority that we would do what was right by receiving the artifact, and promising the community close to 10 years ago, when they invested in this memorial, that we would be good stewards and provide reverent remembrance and do it right and host this, that was a responsibility that we took seriously," Overland Park Fire Chief Bryan Dehner said. "The idea of having to cancel the public viewing of the memorial service, even though it wasn’t a hard decision, it wasn’t something we took very lightly at all."
Dehner said that on Friday, he would be reflecting not only on the lives lost in 2001, but also on the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the death of Overland Park Officer Mike Mosher earlier this year.
"For us, Officer Mosher with Overland Park police, losing his life in the line of duty, that is something I’ll be reflecting on, as well as the men and women of the fire department’s response to COVID, treating and transporting COVID positive patients on a daily basis in the heat of summertime with their masks, gowns, and goggles," Dehner said. "All of that’s been taken behind the scenes to keep them up and running and supplied and safe is something that I’ll be reflecting on this year."
The event began at 7:30 a.m. Friday with a gun salute, the lowering of the American flag to half-staff, and the playing of "Taps" by a bugler and the playing of "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes.
Starting at 7:46 a.m., a bell was rung six times, specifically at the times that each aircraft crashed into the World Trade Center, a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, and for both Twin Towers falling.
