The Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Company continued its September 11 tradition last night with a candlelight memorial service at the Floyd Bennett Memorial bandstand in the center of town. Fire companies from Horicon, Chestertown, Johnsburg, Bolton, North Creek, Garnet Lake, Lake George and Queensbury participated in the service that drew a crowd of over 300 to remember the lives lost 11 years ago, and to pay tribute to those who daily put their lives at risk in service of their country.
The service began with a solemn procession up Elm Street, lead by Airman Ryan Griffen, who is home on leave. At the bandstand, two giant flags fluttered overhead, suspended from the towers of a Lake George and a Queensbury fire truck. Ray Hensler of the American Legion, Boy Scout Troop 100 and Cub Scout Pack 31 led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance; the Warrensburg Junior/Senior High School Band played the national anthem.
Warrensburg Fire Chief Jason Hull asked the crowd to reflect on all that had been lost, not only on September 11, 2001, but over the ensuing 11 years as our military fought in two wars. He asked the crowd to look at the men and woman of the area fire companies assembled around the bandstand, “They don’t think of themselves as heroes, but they are.” He noted that these firefighters take time away from their families and their own pursuits to serve their communities “… and they do it every day.”
The fading twilight was replaced with the glow of candlelight as the ceremonial “Last Alarm” fire bell tolled to honor those who had lost their lives in the line of duty, and the mournful notes of “Taps” echoed off the face of Hackensack Mountain.
The ceremony concluded with a member of the Warrensburg fire Company reading Governor Cuomo’s September 11 press statement:
“It is also our obligation and our duty to make sure that we will always remember. As a new generation grows up without having witnessed the horror of September 11th, it is important to educate our children so they can understand the tragedy that unfolded on that day, the bravery and courage of our first responders, and the outpouring of goodwill in communities across New York and America as we recovered as one state and one nation.” – Governor Andrew Cuomo
The Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Company pledged to always remember with a memorial service every September 11 into the future.