{"id":45901,"date":"2015-09-12T00:27:25","date_gmt":"2015-09-12T00:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/owegopennysaver.com\/?p=45901"},"modified":"2015-09-17T20:51:43","modified_gmt":"2015-09-17T20:51:43","slug":"photos-ceremony-in-tioga-county-n-y-remembers-the-lives-lost-on-9-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2015\/09\/12\/photos-ceremony-in-tioga-county-n-y-remembers-the-lives-lost-on-9-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceremony in Tioga County, N.Y. remembers the lives lost on 9-11"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photos:<\/a>

The Color Guard from V.F.W. Post 1371 proceeds from central fire station on North Avenue in Owego, N.Y. to the Baker Memorial Fountain at the Courthouse Square on Sept. 11, 2015 for a ceremony that remembered those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)<\/p><\/div>\n

On Sept. 11, 2015, a ceremony to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 took place\u00a0starting at 8:46 a.m. at the Fireman\u2019s Statue Baker Memorial Fountain, Main Street, near the Gazebo and on the north lawn of the Tioga County Courthouse in Owego, N.Y.<\/p>\n

Owego Fire Police Lieutenant and 9-11 Ceremony Coordinator John Hitchings extended an invitation to all to \u201cHonor Our Brothers and Sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ceremony started with\u00a0a walk from the Owego Central Fire Station to the Fireman\u2019s Statue.Those walking met\u00a0at the Central Fire Station across from John\u2019s Fine Foods from 8 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. Color Guards of Honor led\u00a0the walk starting at 8:30 a.m. on North Avenue and Main Street.<\/p>\n

\"Photos:<\/a>

New York State Police Officer Jeremiah Allen served as the bagpiper for Friday’s remembrance ceremony in Owego, and is followed by first responders and community members during the walk from Owego’s central fire station to the Baker Memorial Fountain on Sept. 11.<\/p><\/div>\n

Owego Fire Department (OFD) Chief Dan Gavin stated that the\u00a0remembrance ceremony was held to\u00a0honor 343 firefighters, eight EMTs, 61 police officers and 2,581 civilians.<\/p>\n

Tioga County responded to 9-11 with EMTs, firefighters and police officers to fill spots left by their fellow emergency service teams, firemen and police officers.<\/p>\n

New York State Police Trooper Jeremiah Allen played\u00a0the bagpipes, a traditional part of solemn firefighter events. The Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard, lowered\u00a0the flags.<\/p>\n

\"Photos:<\/a>

First responders and guests gather at the Baker Memorial Fountain at the Courthouse Square on Friday, Sept. 11 for a remembrance ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n

Speaker Rev. Thomas A. Valenti, parochial administrator of St. Patrick\u2019s and Blessed Trinity Parishes, offered\u00a0appropriate personal reflections. On 9-11, Father Valenti was the Chaplain at Columbia University, nine miles north of the World Trade Center.<\/p>\n

The remembrance ceremony included the Lighting of Candles for the seven who in past years gave their lives for the safety of Owego citizens to include Owego Police Department Officer Isaac Wiltsie and F. Allen Hall; and Owego Fire Department members Ray Wiltse, Winifred Knap Sr., Richard Beck, Steven Gavin and Matthew Porcari.<\/p>\n

The Tolling of the Bell Ceremony signaled the\u00a0\u201clast alarm\u201d for the fallen first responders.<\/p>\n

Other program events, with Master of Ceremonies Jim Raftis, included the National Anthem sung by Andrea McBride, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Benediction by OFD Chaplain George Hall.<\/p>\n

For photos below, click on photo, and then click again for full photo. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)<\/p>\n

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