Firefighters, police officers and first responders gathered Friday morning on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack for the annual Patriot Day ceremony.
The simple and solemn observance on West Grady St., between the headquarters for the Statesboro Police and Fire Departments, included a wreath presentation, lowering of the flag, ringing of a bell and brief remarks in memory of all the Americans who died that day.
For Statesboro Fire Chief Tim Grams, the 25th anniversary of the national tragedy holds special significance because, in 2026, “an entire generation of adults have no personal memory of September 11, 2001.”
“For many years, ‘Never Forget’ meant holding on to something that we personally remember,” Grams told the group of fellow first responders at Friday’s ceremony. “Today, it means something more.
“It means making sure the story of that tragic day is carried forward by the people who weren't there to witness it. It means teaching the next generation not only what happened that morning, but also what we learned about courage, sacrifice, service and the strength of a nation when its people come together.”
In his remarks, Grams emphasized how much he remembered the country’s real unity.
“We came together as a nation,” he said. “For a time, what united us seemed far more important than what divided us. I believe that is one of the most important parts of September 11th to remember.
“We live in a very different country today than we did in 2001. We have faced wars, economic challenges, natural disasters, a pandemic, political divisions and countless other changes over the past quarter-century. But the lessons of that day have not changed. Service and courage still matter. Compassion and unity still matter. We shouldn't need tragedy to remind us of those things.”
Two planes, with passengers onboard, were crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, also killing all aboard, after passengers intervened.
As upper floors of the World Trade Center were engulfed in flames, firefighters ran toward the danger and continued to enter the buildings and bring other people out until the towers collapsed on all remaining inside.
“(Firefighters), police officers, paramedics, and other first responders moved toward danger without knowing what awaited them,” Grams said. “Passengers aboard Flight 93 realized what was happening and made the decision to act.
“The people who entered those buildings knew they were in danger. The passengers aboard Flight 93 knew the odds they faced. The people who stopped to help strangers had no way of knowing what was going to happen next. But they acted anyway, and that is courage.”
In closing, Grams offered one more appeal to honor the sacrifice of all who died on that day and the unity of the nation in the aftermath.
“We remember a country that, in the face of unimaginable tragedy, chose to stand together,” he said. “Yes, 25 years have passed, and a lot has changed in our communities, in our country and even in ourselves. But there is one thing that should not change. Our responsibility is to remember what happened. To honor those we lost and carry the lessons of that day forward. This is how September 11, 2001, continues to matter.”
Memorial Stair Climb
On Friday morning at Paulson Stadium, the Eagle Battalion of the Reserve Officer Training Corps from Georgia Southern University held its eighth annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Each wearing a badge with the name and photo of someone lost in the attacks, ROTC cadets climbed the stairs through the stadium to replicate the 110 flights of stairs in the Twin Towers.