Community Corner

Lake Mohegan First Responders: 'We Will Never Forget' 9/11 [Photos]

They vowed to never forget, remember the sacrifice of first responders, be thankful for those who survived and pray for the continued heeling of all those still suffering.

Lake Mohegan Fire Department members held a solemn 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Tuesday to remember the tragic attacks on Sept. 11.

"Today's weather was almost duplicate of what we had on Sept. 11, 2001," Lake Mohegan Fire Chief Brian Wolert said. "9/11, I know exactly where I was, what I was doing that day and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about it." 

First responders and community members gathered by the , which was  

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They vowed to 'Never Forget,' remember the sacrifice first responders made to save people's lives, be thankful for those who survived and pray for the continued heeling of all those suffering from emotional and physical pains. 

"We are gathered here tonight as a community on the 11th anniversary to never forget," Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association President Rob Piazza said. "We are here again to remember and pay our most sincerest respects to all of those impacted from the events that day."

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The 9/11 memorial is made out of two 450-pound pieces of steel, which members of the Lake Mohegan Fire Department and Ambulance Corps  last May.

"Walking into the hanger to pick up that steel, I do not believe in spirits or ghosts, but I will tell you there was something in that hanger I wasn't used to," Wolert said. When the hair stood on the back of my neck, walking around, there were some spirits."

Chairman of the board of fire commissioners James Seymour thanked members of the Lake Mohegan Fire Department, who were called for mutual aid 11 years ago and headed down to Ground Zero to help in any way they could. (Read some of those stories .)

Yorktown councilman Vishnu Patel urged resident to honor those lost on 9/11 by serving and volunteering in their community.

One organization that helped contribute to the 9/11 memorial was the Yorktown Leo Club, a service organization for the youth in the community. Members of the group were honored earlier this year for their . Joey Cirone, current Yorktown Leo Club president, said on Tuesday he was happy he and his fellow volunteers were able to contribute. 

"Tough times don't last, but tough people do and that's what it takes to be an American," Fire Chief Wolert said. "With that said, God bless the armed forced, God bless all of you and God bless the USA."

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