Washington Township remembers attacks with Patriot Day events

The community came together through a series of commemorations to honor those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as those who served.

The Washington Township community came together through a series of commemorations to honor those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as those who served.

Elisha Elliot, community outreach director for McGuinness Community Care, organized a flag ceremony in remembrance of the tragedy.

"I can't remember what prompted me, but I knew I wanted to do something," Elliot said.

She reflected on the 2,977 victims that perished from attacks, and came up with an idea to represent each of those people individually.

"I thought, wouldn't it be interesting to see what that number looks like with flags?" Elliot said.

During a lucky break from Thursday's downpour, Elliot brought together troops of boy and girl scouts to plant the near-3,000 American flags in the grass outside of the McGuinness Funeral Home. Mayor Barbara Wallace was in attendance during the commemorative event.

The display of flags surrounds three wreaths dedicated to the sites where each of the attacks occurred, with a plaque in front reading the words "never forget."

Friday morning the McGuinness Funeral Home welcomed firemen for a first responder's breakfast.

Elliot noticed Patriot Day and the National Day of Service both fell on the 11^th this year, and found it a great opportunity to thank local first responders for their service. Several firemen from the Washington Township Fire Department attended the meal.

During a conversation with the firemen, Elliot learned that one of the men just came back from California where he was fighting the ongoing forest fires. Her gratitude was twice-fold since she has family that lives in that area.

Following the breakfast, the fire department held a name-reading ceremony at the headquarters on East Holly Ave, again honoring those fallen during the tragedy 14 years ago.