It was a day to honor those who sacrificed their lives for their fellow Americans on Saturday in Lehighton.

“The Lehighton UVO will continue to bring this program every year as a moment that we can sit, reflect, and remember,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin “Spike” Long.

The Lehighton United Veterans Organization held a Sept. 11 memorial service Saturday to recognize the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

“Sadly, a growing number of Americans have no personal memory of this day; either because of being very young, or not yet born, or probably it never even being brought to their attention,” Long said, expressing disappointment that only 24 people were attendance.

“This is the very reason why we are gathered here today: to remember and never forget the events that changed our nation and forever changed our world.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists, aboard four hijacked passenger jets, carried out coordinated suicide attacks against the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing everyone on board, and 3,000 people on the ground, Long said.

“Not only Americans died that day; but, other people from other countries,” Long said. “The fourth jet that was hijacked was taken over by the passengers and crashed into the ground in Shanksville. That target was unknown; but, possibly the White House.”

Lehighton UVO Chaplain Carl Haydt gave the invocation, and the 9/11 song from Alan Jackson, “Where Were You,” was played.

Lehighton Mayor Clark Ritter said, “A total of 2,996 people died on that day and there were hundreds more that died as a result of their efforts at that site to find survivors, most of whom ended up with cancer.”

The attack on the United States, led to a war in Afghanistan which lasted from Oct. 7, 2001, until Aug. 1, 2021. During that war, 2,456 American military personnel died.

“Today we remember that horrible event, and we keep those who died in our prayers,” Ritter said. “God bless our American military members who died in service in Iraq and Afghanistan for our country. God bless our first responders and the civilians who died on 9/11. And God bless America.”

Lt. Col Retired Travis Steigerwalt said he has a busy schedule but made time when Long invited him.

“You’ve got to give time to remember these things so we don’t forget and keep on going. Keep it in the forefront, fight for the military, fight for our freedoms,” Steigerwalt said.

He said people need to remain vigilant.

“We have danger in our world. We have those military and first responders; they run to where the action is when people are running away. That’s why we should never forget.”

After a musical tribute to the various branches of the military, Long rang a bell to remember those who died: civilians, firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel, military personnel, and those military who died by suicide.