American Canyon’s 9/11 ceremony reminds us to honor loved ones
Last Thursday morning, a ceremonial silver bell was struck nine times in a ceremony commemorating the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, 24 years ago. Outside the American Canyon Fire Department headquarters, city officials, first responders and residents gathered to pay tribute to the day that remains among the biggest tragedies in American history.
“Let us renew our commitment to lead with courage, to serve with compassion and to remain united as one,” said American Canyon Chief of Police Rick Greenberg at a podium. He was flanked by American Canyon Mayor Pierre Washington, Fire Chief Geoff Belyea and city staff.
The ceremony was brief, but the message hit home: honoring the loved ones we’ve lost and staying united with the ones we have with us.
At the edge of the ceremony, neighbors watched. Some shared stories of their experiences of Sept. 11, 2001.
“I immediately called my kids,” said Charlotte Choleria. It felt urgent, she added, “just to connect with your loved ones and say, ‘Are you OK?’”
Fire Captain Max Etchieson, a fourth-generation firefighter, was 21 years old when 9/11 happened.
“As I was walking into the station, the second plane hit. And the world changed,” he remembered.
Although the attacks took place on the East Coast, stations in the Bay Area were impacted.
Etchieson was working at Cordelia Fire at the time, but two of his friends from training were from the New York Fire Department, not far from the World Trade Center. They lost their lives that day.
Local police and fire departments went into emergency mode.
“The West Coast reaction was: brace for impact,” said Etchieson. “The Bay Area at the time had six major oil refining plants, plus a major steel refining plant, plus a naval weapons station, plus an Air Force base. The Bay Area was a big target.”
Things remained tense for first responders in the Bay Area for weeks following. In a sense, explained Etchieson, 9/11 changed how first responders operate.
“Some of the lessons learned coming out of 9/11 were in regards to interagency cooperability — interagency communication, mutual aid systems,” said Etchieson.
“No single agency can handle massive events. It doesn’t matter how big you are — events can always get bigger.”
