9/11: LOOKING BACK 10 YEARS AGO
Published 12:22 pm Sunday, September 11, 2011
As Henry Magill glanced at a piece of steel from the Twin Towers, he sighed and shed a few tears.
The 94-year-old Bothell resident visited the Northshore Fire Department in Kenmore last Sunday morning — on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC — to view an artifact from those iconic structures and talk about that fateful day in American history.
“I thought I’d better get down there and take a look,” said the former 25-year Seattle Fire Department employee (pictured). “I was up at 5 o’ clock and I watched (a 9/11 program) on the TV. I felt sorry for them (the first responders), they really didn’t have a chance … the way that thing came down on them.”
Northshore Battalion Chief Doug Knight noted that the local department is one of 18 in Washington state — and 1,218 worldwide — that received steel pieces from the New York-New Jersey Port Authority.
Knight praised Lt. Steve Loutsis for informing him of the requests for Twin Towers artifacts.
“We are very privileged and honored to be among those agencies awarded an artifact for public display,” Knight said.
Added Loutsis about the 9/11 anniversary: “I’m just thinking about what happened and what it did to the country. Just a day to remember.”
Last Sunday, about 100 people — citizens, police officers, firefighters and Kenmore City Councilmembers — visited the station to view the artifact and remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, according to Fire Commissioner Dave Maehren. One man donated a photo of downtown Manhattan and another man, who lost three close friends and relatives on 9/11, attended the gathering.
Most of the folks assembled at about 6:45 a.m. for the “somber” event, which featured speakers and a moment of silence, said Maehren, who added that the day brought him back to when he worked in the Sheriff’s Office in 2001.
“I still catch myself not believing that this actually happened. Knowing the kind of work these people do, police and firefighters, you just hate to lose somebody,” he said. “For me, it brought back memories of the number of police officers who were friends of mine that we lost (locally).
“So it’s beyond just 9/11, it’s about the public service as a role and a profession and a commitment that people have.”
Before he turned to leave the station, Magill said he enjoyed helping others during his fire-service career, and appreciates the men and women who do the same job today.
HONORING FIRST RESPONDERS
Over in Bothell, Evergreen Community Church hosted First Responders Sunday during and after its 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Pastor Phil McCallum said that inside the church, they showed a 9/11 video recap and lit candles during a minute of silence; outside, people gathered to visit with firefighters and Glenn Lockwood, deputy director of Red Cross response at Ground Zero during the first three months of operations.
“We wanted to take a Sunday and just honor them, and with 9/11, it was an obvious no-brainer that it was the perfect day,” McCallum said. “So even though 9/11 is a tragic and sad event, there’s a lot of hope here because God gives us a lot of reasons (to support one another).”
Lockwood, a friend of McCallum’s and Spokane resident (both pictured, right to left), feels it’s important for people in the community to bond with their police officers and firefighters every day.
“We can’t wait for the big event to occur, we need to reach out and know who they are today and to be able to say, ‘I know who they are, I’m supportive of them,’” he said of first responders. “They feel supported because they face trauma situations every day of their lives, and their families face it every day of their lives and that has to be recognized.”
Lockwood continued: “That’s what made a difference in 9/11 …that’s when everybody came forward. It changed New York, it changed the world, we know that, but moving it forward, thank goodness we’ve learned some things about how important our neighbors are, how important our communities are, how important our networking is together.”
Bothell Fire Department Battalion Chief Dan Johnson and three firefighters attended the 9 a.m. Evergreen service and showed off their fire truck to kids and grown ups alike afterward.
Firefighter Paul Jensen said that people cannot forget what happened 10 years ago — and he feels residents have shown overwhelming appreciation for first responders since that day.
Johnson said that in challenging times, “it’s good to remember that we are a community and can band together and help each other.”
Bothell resident Robin McKenzie attended the Evergreen early service with his wife, Carrie, and daughter, Emily, 4, and noted that it was an emotional morning thinking about 9/11 and honoring first responders.
“I’ve been personally helped by paramedics in an emergency situation, when I had a collapsed lung. They’re there and they really are helping people. For me, it’s personal, I really do thank them for what they did,” Robin said. “It’s also for our kids, because our kids need to know that these people are our friends. It’s (Emily’s) friends if she’s ever in trouble.”
Added Carrie about first responders’ roles in people’s lives: “It’s a great reminder not to take it for granted. It’s the foundation of our society, it’s being safe — you don’t have freedom if you’re not safe, so it’s good to remember and show your support.”
MORE 9/11 REMEMBRANCE
• Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb read a proclamation Sept. 6 that noted Sept. 11 as a Day of Service and Remembrance and encouraged Bothell citizens to join in the observance and to “engage in activities of tribute, solemn remembrance and charitable service.”
“The city of Bothell recognizes Sept. 11, 2011 as a day of solemn commemoration of the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and a day to come together as a nation,” said Mayor Lamb. “The city of Bothell offers its deepest and most sincere condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the innocent victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.”
In honor of the Day of Service and Remembrance, the city’s flags were lowered to half staff. Citizens were also encouraged to volunteer either on Sept. 11 or any time during the month of September.
• U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Bothell released the following statement regarding 9/11:
“This somber anniversary should serve as a reminder to everyone that there truly is more that binds us than divides us. It is our freedom: to live, to prosper, to govern ourselves, and yes — even to disagree. This makes us all Americans.
“Our great nation has withstood many challenges. We have learned and grown together as a result of the attacks of Sept. 11, and we will never forget that terrible day 10 years ago. Our hearts will forever go out to the victims, their friends and family, the volunteers and workers, and the police and firefighters and other first responders who answered the call.”
(Photo below: Bob Hingson and Ken Porter at the Evergreen event. Hingson served in the US Army in Korea and Japan from 1949-’53 and is a retired peace officer for 30 years/Andy Nystrom photo.)
