As the chimes rung in Ellenville’s Liberty Square in front of the Hunt Memorial Building, the annual procession of the Ellenville Fire Department and color guard commemorated the events that took place 22 years ago — the 9/11 attacks that took almost 3,000 lives and changed the world forever.

The ceremony began with the raising by an Ellenville FD truck of the garrison flag into the sky. Waving heroically above the attendees and speakers, it imbued a sense of solemness and pride as the event proceeded.

Ellenville Village Justice Charlie Dechon emceed the event after Denise Younger sung her rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Rabbi Moshe Frank spoke after the introductions, expressing compassion for the first responders to the 9/11 attacks who risked their lives that morning to save the lives of many.

Mayor Jeff Kaplan approached the podium for the next speech, highlighting the importance of 9/11 not only one of the greatest national calamities that America has faced, but how this event marked the first time a tower of the World Trade Center’s height and magnitude had collapsed under the weight of a fire. The first responders, according to Mayor Kaplan, displayed the “ultimate event of heroics, that they would take action of going into the second tower knowing that their life was at risk.” Over 300 firefighters and a hundred more first responders lost their lives on that fateful day, with more succumbing to illnesses over the years linked to the carcinogenic cloud that enveloped much of lower Manhattan that day.

Following Kaplan was Father Ken Riello of the Church of St. Mary and St. Andrew, who noted poignantly that “although we witnessed the worst of humanity on that day, we also witnessed the very best.”

This was the overarching and resounding theme of the gathering. Although 9/11 was a tragedy unlike any other, the bravery that we witnessed from our heroes that day was a true display of why many are proud to be American. Also noted by Riello are the lasting effects of 9/11 — not only the emotional damage done to those who witnessed the atrocities of that day, but also the many other first responders who are now ill or have passed as a result of breathing in toxic fumes.

The final three speeches provided sympathies aligned with the previous speakers. Town of Wawarsing Supervisor Terry Houck added the exact number of citizens and responders who passed that day (currently set at 2,977), along with a remembrance of a local firefighter and Ellenville High Class of 1983 member Robert “Bobby” King. King was serving at the FDNY’s Engine 33, Ladder 9 firehouse in lower Manhattan that, according to Houck, was “the closest station to the World Trade Center. Thirty-six at the time, King heroically placed himself in the face of danger and made the ultimate sacrifice. This event was a reminder to all, both those who were alive in 2001 and those who were not, to “never forget” the sacrifice these individuals made and how some of those who died were our neighbors, family and friends.

As the event ended with Dechon’s closing remarks and a bugler playing “Taps,” the attendees and organizers dispersed. It’s been 22 years since that awful day, but the Monday’s remembrance confirms that in Ellenville at least, it hasn’t been forgotten.