Cashmere's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony unites community and honors heroes

CASHMERE– Remembering the tragedy of September 11, solemn onlookers, both local and international, gathered around the Spirit of America 9/11 Memorial in a thoughtful ceremony of song, shared memories, and national unity in the face of disaster.

With performances from the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums alongside words from multiple notable speakers, including veterans, a retired American Airlines flight attendant, and the president of the Spirit of America 9/11 Memorial Foundation, the event honored those lost with hope for the future.

Kicking off the ceremony, retired Army Veteran and folk singer Hank Cramer performed the National Anthem as well as Tom Paxton’s tribute to 9/11 first responders, The Bravest. As Cramer spoke, he mentioned the vital importance of remembering that grief always passes and love never dies. 

Cramer later commented on his enjoyment of performing at remembrance ceremonies.

“I love doing the Star Spangled Banner because it means a lot to me. But, I also appreciate having the opportunity to speak… and Taps always moves me. That bugle call at the end. If you’ve been a soldier, if you’ve lost someone, it always hits here,” he shared, pointing to his heart.

Each year, the Spirit of America Memorial Foundation presents a community member with its award for leadership and service. This year, Foundation President Doug Jones presented local member Tom Green with the Spirit of America Award, citing his immense dedication in spearheading the creation and maintenance of the 9/11 Memorial. 

Jones expressed the foundation’s aim to educate and foster local memories of 9/11 and similar important dates in US history.

“The board’s mission is really to honor, educate, and remember,” Jones explained. And that is really what we’re all committed to, ensuring that as memory fades and the lives of people that were actually alive during that time and memories of people that were alive, we don’t forget them. And it’s just a privilege to be able to do that. We draw people from all over, and it’s amazing. And this year, people from around the world, new citizens.” 

Preceding the remembrance ceremony, dozens of local immigrants underwent the final step in their naturalization process at the memorial site, securing full US citizenship. These freshly naturalized neighbors then joined the 9/11 remembrance ceremony as special guests, representing the United States’ ability to unite people from around the world, even in times of unrest.

A unique and inspiring guest speaker also took the stage to share his story from 9/11, retired American Airlines Flight Attendant Robb Todd. Todd, if not called to work as an instructor on September 11, would have been on American Airlines Flight 77, which was hijacked by members of Al-Qaeda and flown into the West side of the Pentagon. 

Todd spoke of his experiences that day as he watched from an airport in Washington, D.C. Knowing flight attendants from each plane and that he could have been in one of their positions, Todd is on a mission to tell his story and educate others on the important duties that flight attendants are prepared to perform while on the job.

“This is the 23rd year anniversary, and there are people who were not even born when September 11 took place,” Todd explained, “and for most of them, this day is simply a page in a history book. And I cannot allow my friends and colleagues who were heroes on that day, for they memory to be simply a page in a history book, their story needs to be told.” 

Notably, Todd drove home the fact the flight attendants are often a passenger’s first line of defense in a dangerous situation and that, as was the case on September 11, they’re trained to put the safety of their passengers above all else.

“If you get a coke and a bag of pretzels, that’s the gravy on top,” he mentioned, “but number one priority is safety. And, God forbid something like this were to happen, they are all trained to handle something like that.” 

The ceremony’s words of remembrance closed with a poem from Idahoan Kelsie Patterson, who first wrote her piece, The Eagle, shortly after the events of September 11, at 11 years old. Following her reading, the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums closed with a somber playing of Taps alongside the American Legion Post 10’s sobering 21-gun salute. 

A Chelan County Sheriff’s Office helicopter then performed a flyover, saluting those below with security and peace of mind. 

As the ceremony wrapped up, the Foundation President Jones invited attendees for free food and cake at the Riverside Center. With few refusing the opportunity for free food, the 9/11 Spirit of America Memorial and Riverside Center bustled full of locals and visitors alike, sharing stories and smiles as they came together. 

To learn more about the 9/11 Spirit of America Memorial Foundation, visit 911memoialwa.org.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media