Prince William County government holds 9/11 remembrance ceremony

A crowd gathered to remember and honor 22 county residents lost during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, during Prince William County’s 9-11 remembrance ceremony, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. The remembrance ceremony was held at the Liberty Memorial at the government center in Woodbridge.

“We came together today to remember and honor the 22 people we lost from our community in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The greatest terrorist attack our country has ever experienced led to the greatest loss any one community in this region experienced… So, today we take time to remember and honor those we lost. And we take time to remember and honor the family, friends and neighbors they left behind; we are here to let them know we haven’t forgotten them or their loved ones,” Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, was quoted as saying in a press release. 

During the ceremony, Prince William supervisors John Jenkins, Maureen Caddigan, Marty Nohe and Frank Principi joined Stewart in laying a wreath at the memorial. There was a moment of silence for the victims and the tolling of the bell. Stewart then read the names of those lost from Prince William County. A poem entitled “We’re Still Standing” was read, followed by the playing of Amazing Grace and Taps.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, several people stayed to spend time in reflection, including United Airlines flight attendants and Prince William County residents Michelle Lee and Sandra Cummins. Both said the memories of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, stay with them to this day.

“It was disbelief and it just kept happening. It wasn’t just one event, and it was our airline that was affected. I think that it was just so… personal for us because we recognized faces. I think every year you hope for it to get easier and it doesn’t. The emotions just come back, and they’re still raw,” Lee was quoted as saying, in the press release.

The Liberty Memorial, which is located between the Prince William Parkway and James J. McCoart Administration Building, was dedicated on May 9, 2006, to honor those who died on 9/11. The shape of the reflecting pool and walkway recall the 184 lost at the Pentagon. The single stone to the left of that plaque is an original limestone block from the collapsed portion of the Pentagon. The two columns of water represent the 2,749 lost at the World Trade Center in New York City. The stone that encircles the fountain is Pennsylvania flagstone, a tribute to the 40 lives lost in Pennsylvania.

Following are the names of those Prince William County residents who died on Sept. 11, 2001. 
Sergeant First Class John J. Chada, US Army, Retired
Specialist Jamie L. Fallon, US Navy
Amelia V. Fields
Lt. Col. Robert J. Hymel, US Air Force, Retired
Sergeant Major Lacey B. Ivory, US Army
Judith L. Jones
David W. Laychak
James T. Lynch, Jr.
Gene E. Maloy
Robert J. Maxwell
Molly L. McKenzie
Craig J. Miller
Diana B. Padro
Rhonda S. Rasmussen
Edward V. Rowenhorst
Judy Rowlett
Donald D. Simmons
Jeff L. Simpson
Cheryle D. Sincock
Chief Information Systems Technician Gregg H. Smallwood, US Navy
Sergeant Major Larry L. Strickland, US Army
Sandra L. White