BROWNSBURG, Ind. (WISH) — Brownsburg on Friday evening joined communities across the nation in marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a shared vow to never forget the lives lost a quarter-century ago.
Residents and public safety officials gathered at the town’s 9/11 memorial, sharing stories and remembrance for those who died. The ceremony unfolded just steps away from a weathered piece of New York’s twin towers, which serves as the town’s permanent memorial and a physical reminder of the day’s weight.
As the crowd listened, officials and residents read the names of more than 300 firefighters who responded to the attacks and never returned home.
“We lost 343 of our own, and so that means a lot to us, as firefighters,” said Brett Havlin, public information officer for the Brownsburg Fire Territory. “We never want to forget the ultimate sacrifice that they gave, the 343 brothers that we lost on that day. It’s something we never want to forget, and as long as their names are on our mouths, their legacy is never forgotten.”
The anniversary prompted many in attendance to share where they were when the 9/11 attacks happened. Havlin recalled going into work and seeing the news on every television.
“I couldn’t fathom. We were literally under attack. It was a scary, scary moment,” Havlin said.
He noted that the events of that day changed the shape of the nation, which is why the community continues to gather every year. “We will never forget, and that’s why we continue to do this.”
Donnie Ross, a battalion chief for the Brownsburg Fire Territory, was working construction at the time. “The job site got completely quiet, and everybody was saying we were just attacked. It was probably 100 of us on the job site. We all sat around a radio and just listened to what was going on.”
Naomi Long, with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, was at her desk at a law firm in Kingston, New York. “I was sitting at my desk when my boss came downstairs saying that a plane had crashed into the tower. As a native New Yorker, 9/11 is with me every day.”
The tragedy also sparked a wave of patriotism and action. Tom Culbertson, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, remembered the surge in military interest immediately following the attacks. “On 9/12, they were lined up outside of all the recruiting offices, all the young guys were, to join, and we had a big surge of enlistment because they all wanted to go do something and that was very impressive.”
Judy Keller, a Brownsburg resident, believes the day remains a vital part of American history. She said, “9/11 is an important day in our U.S. history. It was a traumatic time. It caught us off guard, but here we are. We’re resilient. We fight back. We are still a strong country.”
This story was created from a script aired on Circle City Broadcasting.
