{"id":67942,"date":"2018-09-11T19:06:34","date_gmt":"2018-09-11T23:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=67942"},"modified":"2018-09-18T06:44:57","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T10:44:57","slug":"ceremony-remembers-the-victims-of-9-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2018\/09\/11\/ceremony-remembers-the-victims-of-9-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceremony remembers the victims of 9-11"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ceremony<\/a>

State Police Officer Steven Ayers talked about his longtime friend, Derek James Statkevicus, during Tuesday\u2019s 9-11 ceremony held at the memorial located at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

It has been 17 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 (9-11) killed 2,996 people, to include the hijackers that carried out the attacks, and left 6,000 others injured. Passengers in the four planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pa. and at the Pentagon numbered 265, and 125 were killed on the ground at the Pentagon. <\/p>\n

On Sept. 11, 2018, Tioga County held a Remembrance Ceremony at the 9-11 Memorial located at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. This is the third year that a ceremony has taken place at the newly constructed memorial. <\/p>\n

This year\u2019s ceremony honored all the lives lost during the attacks of 9-11 to include Derek James Statkevicus, formerly of Apalachin, N.Y., and Tioga County\u2019s only casualty of 9-11, according to Jim Raftis, Sr.<\/p>\n

Statkevicus, who graduated from Vestal High and earned his Eagle Scout Rank with Troop 43 of Apalachin, was on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center\u2019s South Tower when the attacks occurred. A bench, located at the 9-11 Memorial in Hickories Park, was placed, with his family in attendance, in 2016.<\/p>\n

\"Ceremony<\/a>

Master of Ceremonies Jim Raftis, Sr., left, and John Hitchings, Owego Fire Police, test the sound prior to the beginning of Tuesday\u2019s ceremony held at the 9-11 memorial located at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

State Police Officer Steven Ayers grew up with Statkevicus, and arrived at the ceremony in Owego on Tuesday to talk about his old friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost a dear friend, and a special person in the community,\u201d said Ayers of Statkevicus to the guests that gathered for the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Ayers grew up with Statkevicus, and they were scouts together. Ayers noted that Derek\u2019s dad, Joe Statkevicus, was the scoutmaster.<\/p>\n

And even though the years took these two childhood friends in different directions, the strength of their friendship remained.<\/p>\n

During the bench dedication in 2016, and when the Statkevicus family was in town, Ayres spent time with Derek\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

And his fondest memories of Derek were the Florida vacations they would go on together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud to represent him at this ceremony,\u201d said Ayers, who is a Gulf War Air Force veteran and has served now for over 22 years with the State Police.<\/p>\n

Matt Tallon, an employee with the New York State Courts, also arrived to remember and honor the three New York State Court employees that lost their lives during 9-11.<\/p>\n

\"Ceremony<\/a>

Matt Tallon, an employee with the New York State Courts, and based in Owego, remembers and honors three New York State Court employees from New York City that lost their lives during a ceremony held Tuesday at the 9-11 memorial located at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

According to Tallon, when the three employees saw what was happening, they went into the buildings to help others. <\/p>\n

Captain Harry Thompson, Court Officer Mitchell Wallace, and Court Officer Thomas Jurgens put the lives of others before their own that day. <\/p>\n

Owego Town Supervisor Donald Castellucci spoke about the amount of time that has passed since 9-11, and recognized all the first responders that lost their lives, and those that continue to put it all on the line to help others.<\/p>\n

Senator Fred Akshar also arrived at the ceremony to say a few words. According to Master of Ceremonies Jim Raftis, Sr., Senator Akshar has attended every ceremony since elected into office, and Tuesday was no exception.<\/p>\n

Senator Akshar addressed the guests, stating, \u201cIt\u2019s important we remember unity.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cDespite our differences, we are one community. As a country, we are one America.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ceremony<\/a>

Fire Policeman John Hitchings tolls the bell during a ceremony held Tuesday at the 9-11 memorial located at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

Tuesday\u2019s ceremony also included a tolling of the bell, a somber process punctuated by moments of silence and bell-ringing to mark the crashes of jets into the South Tower, the Pentagon and a rural field in Pennsylvania, as well as the collapse of each Trade Center tower.<\/p>\n

New York State Police officer Jeremy Allen led the color guard with bagpipes for the service, and then departed, with bagpipes playing, at the conclusion of Tuesday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n

Dean Morgan offered Taps, Owego Fire Department Chaplain George Hall offered the Benediction for the ceremony, and Andrea McBride sang the National Anthem.<\/p>\n

Following the ceremony, and later at St. Patrick\u2019s Church, a candle lighting ceremony took place for Owego\u2019s fallen responders; Owego Police Department Officers Isaac Wiltse and F. Allen Hall; and Owego Fire Department\u2019s Ray Wiltse, Winifred Knap Sr., Richard Beck, Steven Gavin and Matthew Porcari.<\/p>\n

Click the thumbnail to view a larger photo. Click the back button to return to the gallery.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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