County marks Sept. 11
Five years after terrorists used airplanes as weapons to kill thousands in the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Butler County residents stopped to remember.
Butler councilman Jim Kraus organized the Sept. 11 ceremonies starting with a breakfast at Cornerstone Commons on South Main Street for first responders — firefighters, police and emergency medical technicians.
About 40 men shared breakfast with Butler County Commissioner Jim Kennedy, Butler Mayor Maggie Stock, Butler Township Commissioner Donna Druga and state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th.Ellis said Sept. 11, 2001, was "a pivotal day for America, and this morning we are honoring those who stepped up and began helping immediately."Butler police Lt. Ron Pate said that for him and his fellow officers, Monday was a "time to stop and reflect" on the events of five years ago.Don Gaiser, Jim Neely, Ken Wehr, John Doutt and Bob Cordray, all firefighters with the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department, said they serve as volunteer firefighters to help people and for the camaraderie that exists between them. Those bonds are so strong most have served their department for more than 40 years.Cordray, whose sons are Meridian firefighters, is the rookie, so to speak, as he joined the department exactly five years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001."I wanted to give something back to the country and my community," he said.
After breakfast, first responders from Butler, Lick Hill, Meridian, West Sunbury, Cranberry Township, the Butler County Sheriff's Department and the Butler Emergency Medical Services, attended a ceremony with more than 200 in attendance in Diamond Park.Among those who gathered in the park across Main Street from the Butler County Courthouse were fifth grade students from Emily Brittain, Center Avenue and Broad Street elementary schools, as well as the Butler Junior High School.Those children honored emergency personnel with poems and speeches about what Sept. 11 means to them.Kevin Lukacs Jr., 13, a junior high student, talked about his father serving in Iraq and how much we should remember to thank those who serve in the military or as emergency personnel.His father, Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Lukacs Sr., who serves in the U.S. Army, stood with his fiancee, Susan Lubinski, as Kevin Jr. spoke."I am so proud of him," the father said of the son after Kevin Jr.'s speech was done, admitting he was "playing hooky" from work to see the speech.
Lukacs Sr. is a ROTC instructor at Slippery Rock University who has served in Desert Storm and the war in Iraq.Tammy Birchbigler and her daughter, Nancy, attended the ceremony "to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and those who work to save lives."She apologized for not being able to say more, as she was upset.Nancy, 10, a 5th grader at Emily Brittain, said that she was "sad because of all the people who died, but I'm happy that we remember them."<B>Memorial Park</B>Later in the day, councilwoman Kathy Kline hosted a flagpole dedication in Butler Memorial Park.The pole was donated by Woodmen of the World, Chapter 8, led by David Sinz.Sinz said that after Sept. 11, 2001, the Woodmen started their Flagpole Project and have given away more than 4,000 poles and more than 300,000 flags in five years.An honor guard made up of members of American Legion posts 117 and 778, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 249, held a gun salute, raised the first flag on the pole and played, "Taps."
Commander R. Lowell Hancock, who was named Butler County's Veteran of the Year for 2006, said the nation is healing."I am proud that out of the darkness of that day (Sept. 11), Americans resolved to make the world a safer place," Hancock told the 30 or so veterans, local leaders and city residents who attended the ceremony.
