The 9/11 Memorial at Ft. Allen Park This Morning Following the Wreath Laying Ceremony by the Portland Police Chief Frank T. Clark and Fire Chief Keith Gautreau.

A Crowd Attended the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attack on the Eastern Promenade, Portland. Paul Halvorsen, (R) Plays the Bagpipes.

Portland Fire Chief Keith Gautreau and Portland Police Chief Frank T. Clark Following the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Ft. Allen Park on the Eastern Promenade.

“It’s a milestone.  The 20th anniversary is an important day and that accounts for the large crowd today,” said Portland Police Chief Frank T. Clark, at the 20th anniversary observation of the 9/11 attack on the United States. Several hundred people watched as Portland Police Chief Frank T. Clark and Fire Chief Keith Gautreau laid wreaths at the base of the 9/11 Memorial on Ft. Allen Park on Munjoy Hill.

Paul Halverson, who played the bagpipes and has played in all the observations, remembered how there used to be a march up Congress Street to the Eastern Promenade with marchers carrying the names of first responders.  “The tenth year anniversary was another milestone.  So there was a big crowed in attendance for that occasion,” he said.

Across the nation villages and cities joined in marking this poignant and tragic anniversary of the attack on the US that killed almost 3,000 people.

Gordon Felt, the brother of a deceased member of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. recalled how immediately following the attack, this country was united.  The nation was one.  Felt went on in his address to the Pennsylvania  crowd and the television audience to ask if this nation has forgotten the lessons learned from the sacrifices made from those on board Flight 93.  They sacrificed their lives to save the lives of many more about to be attacked by Flight 93.

“Let us strive to be worthy of those whose lives were lost on 9/11 here in Shanksville,” he said in a pointed message to the sun-soaked crowd. “Do we conduct ourselves in ways that would make our heroes proud or have we diminished their memories?” Felt asked.

Never Forget.

Please visit post herein dated September 7, for more background information on the event.