By Samantha Cossick
The Public Opinion
GREENE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — As the church bells of the Letterkenny Chapel rang in the hour, officials began dedicating the 9/11 Memorial at the Franklin County Veterans’ Memorial Park on Saturday.
Made of steel from the World Trade Center, the memorial’s dedication marks the completion of the first phase of the park, said G. Warren Elliott, former county commission chairman.
The dedication of the memorial, which broke ground on Oct. 31, is also the “exclamation point” on the great Armed Forces Day and 70th anniversary of the Letterkenny Army Depot, said Col. Cheri A. Provancha, commander of the depot.
“This beautiful memorial is a great opportunity for our community to gather and remember,” she said.
Provancha challenged visitors to looking inside their hearts to find the true meaning of the memorial and decide best how to honor those whose lives were lost.
“As American citizens we must take the events of the past and grow from them,” she said.
“We must never forget our the 9/11 attacks made us feel, but we must also celebrate the rich heroism of dedication and sacrifice made on that day and the days that have followed,” Provancha said.
Designed by Mike Fisher, owner of Deverre Elements, a glass tile manufacturing company, this honor was the “opportunity of a lifetime.”
“The vision was to pay tribute to the people who lost their lives in the worst attack on our shores,” Fisher said.
The focal point - the metal artifacts - are erected as a symbol of pride and perseverance, he said. The circular pattern around the tribute allows visitors to take in the many twist and turns that impacted the metal when it was struck.
Two rows of Arborvitae trees, Latin for “tree of life,” represent the fallen towers and “organic pride” of the country leading to a tribute of flags to the first responders.
Flags for the United States, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, POW-MIA, firefighters, 9/11 remembrance, United State Marine Corp. and the United States Army were raised on the grounds prior to the tribute’s unveiling.
The memorial will serve as a place to honor and praise God, to respect our nation and to remember the lives lost, said Rev. Dr. William H. Harter, chairman of the 9/11 Memorial Committee.
“We are the beneficiaries of those who have aspired to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” he said.
First Counselor to Apostolic Nuncio Ambassador of Pope Benedict XVI Monsignor Jean-Francois Lantheaume, read the prayer Pope Benedict XVI recited on April 20, 2008 when he visited Ground Zero in New York.
Lantheaume then blessed the tribute by sprinkling holy water on all four sides of the memorial.
After the blessing, keynote speaker former Gov. Mark S. Schweiker compared the beautiful Saturday to that beautiful Tuesday more than 10 years ago.
“What will you remember about this day and that day?” he said. “We are old enough to remember and we do not want to forget.”
Schweiker encouraged everyone in the attendance to never forget that day in 2001 and to pass it down to each generation.
“America has always answered the call whether the call to arms or the call to help,” said David Keller, chairman of the Franklin County Commissioners.
At their May 15 meeting, the commissioners voted to invest funds from the collected hotel tax to help finish the memorial, he said.
The idea of a “Patriot’s Park” on the Letterkenny grounds was first envisioned by the late state Sen. Terry Punt, Harter said.
Since that time, there have been many sponsors and people who have helped make that vision come true, he said.
“We treasure you all and thank God for you from the very bottom of our hearts,” Harter said.
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