Like most Americans, Mount Laurel Mayor Jim Keenan remembers exactly where he was when tragedy struck the nation on September 11, 2001.
“I was getting ready to head up to New York that morning for a noon meeting when a business friend called me and told me that I should not head to New York and told me to turn on the television to see why,” Keenan said. “I then sat all day glued to the television watching in disbelief.
“I have family in New York who were police officers and we called to see if they were okay,” he added. “We received confirmation about one of them but waited all day to hear if the other was safe. We heard from him around 4 p.m., he was also safe.”
Laurel Acres Park will be the site of the 9/11 memorial service.
The event marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
The service will be held on September 11 at 1 p.m.
It will include the unveiling of the refurbished Veterans’ Memorial and the presence of the fire district’s piece of steel from the Word Trade Center. The steel is approximately 19 feet long and weighs approximately 900 pounds.
The event will host a number of speakers, including those who were at the World Trade Center on 9/11 and representatives of emergency management personnel who contributed to efforts after the attack.
It will also include a tribute to the 9/11 victims, families, and loved ones. There will be a 21-gun salute, bugler, bagpipes, a singer, and the placement of a wreath on the Veterans’ Memorial.
The township will be reaching out to various community groups, including the Scouts, ROTC, homeowner associations, veteran groups, youth sport groups, and dignitaries.
Emergency Management Coordinator and EMS Chief Fran Pagurek is overseeing the event.
“We are expecting a large turnout for the event since it is a moment in history that has affected the hearts of many Mount Laurel residents,” Township Manager Jennifer Blumenthal said.
“It is important to remember the 2,819 people who died on that day,” Keenan said.
Pagurek also has vivid memories of that day.
“I was at home asleep after working a night shift,” Pagurek remembered. “I was awakened by the Burlington County EMS Coordinator Bruce Beatty with a phone call shortly after the first plane hit the towers in NYC.
“At that time the news was reporting a possible aviation accident. We started to discuss possible emergency medical services mutual aid to NYC. Then the second aircraft struck and other information was reported by the news indicating this was no accident.
I headed into my township office to start planning a local response plan and a emergency meeting with our local emergency planning committee.”
Pagurek was tasked as a Burlington County EMS Task Force Leader charged with leading over 30 EMS vehicles to the state staging area at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. Five Burlington County ambulances were sent to Liberty State Park at about 6 p.m. to assist with the injured evacuees that arrived by boat.
Pagurek’s command vehicle was sent at 10 p.m. to help FDNY EMS establish command post facilities for Ground Zero EMS operations.
He also assisted with determining NJ EMS assets at ground zero, in Manhattan and future NJ EMS asset needs for the next operational period.
“We are inviting and encouraging the entire Mount Laurel community to participate,” Pagurek said. “We are also encouraging the entire Mount Laurel community to participate through a resolution introduced at a recent council meeting proclaiming the month of September Remembrance Month with the theme ‘Mount Laurel Shall Never Forget 9–11–2001.’
All Mount Laurel residents and business owners are requested in this resolution to show their support, patriotism and community unity for the 9–11 remembrance by displaying the American flag on their home, business, vehicle and person during the month of September” he continued. “Essentially, we are hoping that Mount Laurel will be covered in red, white, and blue.”
Ensuring that this program gets it right to truly honor the memory of all those that lost their lives on 9–11 and to honor the memory of the troops that have lost their lives fighting for our freedom is the greatest challenge, Pagurek said.
“We cannot forget the price of freedom or the events of 9–11–2001, the largest attack on the U.S. mainland,” he added. “We as a country must stay strong and vigilant to protect our freedom from terrorists.”
Pagurek said troops are still engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan routing out terrorism at its roots while our “Home Town Heroes” are protecting the homeland from terrorism.
“The images, sights, and feelings I experienced that day will never be forgotten,” he said.
