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Kent State remembers 9/11 by honoring local first responders

By KRISTI R. GARABRANDT 5 min read

EAST LIVERPOOL -- Kent State University-East Liverpool campus remembers Sept. 11, 2001, "a day that changed the world, 25 years later with a reminder to remember, and honoring local first responders for their service to community.

The Never Forget Community Remembrance event was held at the Kent State University East Liverpool Campus Thursday evening, one day prior to the anniversary of 9/11 so the community could join in honoring the memory of Sept. 11 by remembering the past, honor local heroes by recognizing the service and sacrifices of the first responders that serve the community and strengthen the community by participating together in remembrance, education and community engagement.

Firefighters from the East Liverpool and Calcutta volunteer fire departments, police officers from the East Liverpool Police Department and several former or retired firefighters who attended the event were recognized and thanked for their service by Kent State University faculty and students with the presentation of remembrance pins to each one.

Also remembered during the event with her photo and her story on display was Cathy Salter of Wellsville who was preparing the evacuate from the 98th floor of the South Tower of The World Trade Center when the second plane hit the tower. She died three weeks before her 38th birthday.

Lt Josh Coil, East Liverpool Fire Department, said it's always cool to have a local university such as Kent State, which they have been fortunate to have in East Liverpool, put on a remembrance for 9/11. Coil said he was in the fifth grade when the attacks happened, and he can recall it vividly. That is what made him and his twin brother join the Marines right out of high school. He joined the fire department after the Marines because that seemed like the next step for him.

Coil also said he appreciates the people who can before him and sacrificed everything for this country the people that do everything they can for this community, and he noted that he feels awesome to be able to give back to his community in that way.

"It's huge, because there are not a lot of people we are getting to the point where there are a lot of people that were born after 9/11 and that don't understand it or know about it and it's almost to the point where people are kind of forgetting about it, so it's nice for Kent State to put on something for people to bring back the memories of it and the memories of the ones we lost then and in the wars that followed to keep their memory alive," Coil said about the event.

Lt. Randy Schneider, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, said that the fact that it has been 25 years since the attack is significant for people of his age. At the time he was sitting in his fifth-grade class with his friend and East Liverpool firefighter Shayne Hamilton, who was previously a member of the Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, and the two of them grew up and joined the fire department at the same time.

"It has a significant impact to be here and be invited by Kent State and to be recognized by them," said Schneider, who was wearing the pin he received.

Firefighter Rylan Childs, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, said what Kent State was doing with the event was a great way to honor first responders, not only the local first responders but also ones who were there on the scenes of the attacks at the time. He also noted it served as a reminder to the community of that tragic day and that it's an honor that they continue to honor their lives and remember the ones who passed and the ones the still serving in many roles throughout the community and country.

East Liverpool and Calcutta Volunteer fire departments had multiple Emergency vehicles on display throughout the event, and the American Red Cross was site for blood drive.

East Liverpool City Hospital, which had a physical therapist assistant providing massages, and New Castle School of Trades were there along with a variety of other organizations with community information tables.

Bill Jones, owner of Crockery City Creamery and Confectionery, was handing out free ice cream.

Kent State faculty, students and alumni had a variety of information tables on display and physical therapy on hand to provide massages, blood pressure screenings and more.

Kent state faculty and students were serving hot dogs, chips, cookies and water while a DJ played music.

Flash, Kent State's mascot, made an appearance handing out some of the remembrance pins to first responder and posing for photos.

The event was free and open to the public and all first responders.

"I loved that some of our community members came," Sarah Andreas, academic vice dean, Kent State University said on the turnout.

Andreas was pleased with the number of first responders who stopped by the event and got their free remembrance pins and noted that she hoped it was very memorable for them.

While the event will not likely be a yearly event, according to Andreas it will probably be an every five- or 10-year one, with the next one anticipated five years from now in 2031 for the 30th anniversary of 9/11.

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