‘ADVERSITY CONTAINS GREATNESS’
Saratoga Springs marks 16th anniversary of terrorist attacks
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The Spa City remembered the people who died 16 years ago during a ceremony at High Rock Park Monday morning.
US Army Col. Jim Pabis, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, traveled to ground zero in lower Manhattan following the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2011.
“As the song goes, where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? I bet everyone in this crowd can say where they were that day. I certainly can. I was sitting in an office a few blocks from here on what I thought was a normal work day. A co-worker came in, said a plane had hit the trade center. I said someone must have made a mistake leaving LaGuardia or JFK. A little while later he came in and said, another plane had hit. I knew something was wrong. The phone rang, and said, pack your bag, get down here to the guard headquarters the whole state has been activated and we’re not sure what’s going on,” Pabis said. “...As I drove [to Latham] the amount of cars that were pouring into the guard headquarters was unreal. I never seen anything like it. I come to find out most of the people had not been called but responded on their own to help. And this was happening in armories all across the state. People proactively coming into to help.”
Pabis reflected on how incredible it was to see the country come together during such a horrific time.
“When we got to zero ground it was even more amazing. The response was absolutely off the chart. NYPD, the fire department of New York and DPW workers were everywhere. Many wearing civilian clothes as they had just come from home to help. Again, pro-
An invocation was said by Chaplain Sid Gordon, while the Rev. Thomas H. Chevalier offered a benediction.
Saratoga Springs High School Choraliers sang “American Pride” and “Remember My Song.”
Mayor Joanne Yepsen offered words about Sept. 11, 2001.
“For many of us, the most powerful memory of that September day is the way we worked together in any way we could,” Yepsen said, “whether we were deployed or regular citizens.”
Yepsen mentioned the strength America has demonstrated over the last couple weeks.
“The past year has been especially divisive in our country, however, let’s not forget that we are one nation, one government, one people even in this complicated world,” Yepsen said. “For instance, look to the people in Texas, to the Islands, to the peninsula of Florida, once again we’re demonstrating how we felt on September 11, sixteen years ago. On this anniversary of one of the darkest days in our nation’s history we again stand together as Americans to support, strengthen and help one another and again in awe and appreciation for our first responders. That is what Americans do. That is what we honor here today.”