Cherry Hill Township honored the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 with two different events.
On Sept. 3, Mayor Dave Fleisher, council vice president Michele Golkow, councilmembers Sangeeta Doshi and Daniel DiRenzo joined the Flagging in Remembrance of September 11 event hosted by Katz Jewish Community Center (JCC).
Assemblywoman Melinda Kane, Camden County Commissioner Jen Cooley Fleisher, the township police and fire departments, the Jewish War Veterans and the South Jersey Men’s Club were also in attendance.
“It’s been 24 years since the tragedy of the September attacks,” Mayor Fleisher reflected. “In the minutes, hours, and days after the attacks, there was a feeling of pride, when our nation came together to rally around a common cause.”
Each of the present groups and individuals helped place American flags in the ground surrounding the Katz JCC to remember the lives lost in the attacks.
On the anniversary, the mayor, council, board of fire commissioners, Assemblywoman Kane, Fire Chief Wade Houlihan and Police Chief John Ostermueller joined the community at the township’s 9/11 Memorial in front of fire headquarters for the annual Remembrance Ceremony.
“Patriot Day is a time to draw inspiration from that unity,” Mayor Fleisher said. “It is a powerful reminder of not just where we were, but where we can be. Reaffirming our commitment to treating each other with dignity and respect would be the ultimate tribute to all those lost on September 11th.”
The solemn occasion was commemorated in a quiet ceremony to honor the lives of the fallen and the bravery of the first responders present that day who put their lives on the line in the effort to save others, also honoring the township’s own firefighters and police officers.
“We recognize the heroes who rushed towards the danger with unflinching determination to save lives then, and the courageous members of our own fire department, emergency medical services, and police department, all of whom have taken an oath to serve and protect, often at great personal risk, without seeking praise or recognition,” Fleisher continued.
In addition, the mayor also acknowledged that average citizens also play a role and show bravery.
