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Community Corner

Cranbury Remembering Sept. 11

The Township passed a resolution calling for all members of the community to pause and remember Sept. 11.

Cranbury Township will commemorate the tragic events of Sept. 11 by stopping and remembering those who were lost by signaling police, fire and EMS sirens, and a church bell throughout the town for one minute as part of the National Moment of Remembrance Sunday.

The township committee passed a unanimous resolution on Tuesday morning calling for all members of the community to cease all regular activity for a moment to honor the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

In the resolution, the township “…expresses their support of the United States’ Senate regarding coming together as a Nation and ceasing all work or other activity for a moment of remembrance beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 11, 2011, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks committed against the United States on September 11, 2001.”

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U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg urged all 566 New Jersey municipalities to come together as a state by having emergency vehicles sound off sirens and houses of worship ring bells at that given time.

“And I hope and pray that all towns do,” said Jay Taylor, Cranbury committee member. “It will be a real unification of the state and of the country.” 

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Taylor said that all emergency vehicles in operation will signal their sirens, as will the firehouse siren and the Presbyterian Church will toll its bell. 

“Many of us recall the love of country we experienced in the days, weeks and months after the attacks in 2001. During that period, it seemed like everywhere you turned, you saw an American flag. As a nation, we were willing to set aside our differences to mourn our losses and work together to defeat those who threaten our way of life,” Senator Lautenberg said in a news release. “I believe the national Moment of Remembrance can help us recapture that spirit of unity, and remind everyone how strong we are when we stand together.” 

The resolution consists of a detailed timeline of the events of Sept. 11, including the times that the planes struck the Twin Towers, the number of victims killed, how emergency personnel rushed into the buildings to save lives and how the war on terror continues. 

“We thought that was important to join the rest of the country in a symbolic gesture to honor the lives that were lost that day,” Taylor said.

In addition to recognizing the nearly 3,000 people who were killed on Sept. 11, the resolution specifically distinguishes the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who were killed, 37 Port Authority Police officers and commanders who died and the 23 New York City Police officer that died. These emergency responders were recognized for their, “heroic service, actions, and sacrifices,” according to the resolution.

“I really feel for the people,” Taylor said. “It’s still a raw emotion knowing you lost colleagues. They didn’t start the day as heroes but many ended the day that way.”

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