Honoring the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks

By Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine 

Robert and Jackie Norton’s son was waiting for them in California 25 years ago. He was about to get married, but his parents, a retired couple from Lubec, never made it to the ceremony. Their plane, American Airlines Flight 11, hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in a horrific act of terrorism on Sept. 11, 2001.

Katie Ward, the sister of Stephen Ward, said her brother couldn’t wait to take over the big city when he moved to New York. A native of Gorham, Stephen had big plans, and he encouraged everyone to go after what they wanted and live their best lives. Stephen was working on the 101st floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center that fateful day.

Robert Jalbert was raised in Lewiston and lived in Swampscott, Massachusetts, when he boarded United Flight 175 for a business trip to California. People described him as an easygoing guy, a good friend and a proud father who went to church every Sunday and served as a eucharistic minister. His flight struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Attorney Jim Roux of Portland, someone who loved hiking Mount Washington. He was also on United Flight 175. Through this Saturday, Sept. 12, the summit of Mount Washington will be lit by two pillars of light that will be visible from 100 miles away to honor Jim Roux and the thousands of others whose lives were cut short that day.

Commander Robert Schlegel was a devoted husband, a decorated officer, and an avid ice hockey and football player. Originally from Gray, Commander Schlegel had been awarded the Purple Heart and other medals for his career-long service in the U.S. Navy. He had been promoted just a month before he boarded American Airlines Flight 77, which was then flown into the Pentagon, killing all on board.

25 years ago, Maine and the nation were forever changed by the September 11th terrorist attacks. On this solemn anniversary, I join the Maine people in pausing to remember the nearly 3,000 souls taken from us that day, including the six beloved people from Maine. And in saluting the courageous first responders who rushed towards danger, including those heroes still living with devastating health conditions caused by exposure to toxic flames and fumes.

One of those firefighters moved to Falmouth. Kevin Hogan wasn’t working on September 11, but when the first plane struck the World Trade Center, he jumped into a pickup truck, heading to Ground Zero. Through a storm of ash, he and other firefighters searched for scraps of clothing and under rubble, praying to find and return loved ones to their families. So today, we recognize first responders like Kevin, and we also thank the many servicemembers who stepped up to keep our nation safe then and in the years since.

And we thank our friends in other countries who stood by us. On September 11, more than 250 flights were forced to divert to Canada, including 38 commercial flights that touched down in Gander, Newfoundland, when more than 7,000 passengers were stranded. A local TV station put out a call to “lend a hand, do what you can,” and residents opened their homes to Americans in need. Now, more than ever before, we should remember that kindness of our neighbors to the North.

Although more than a hundred million Americans are too young to remember that dark day, today, we take a moment to remember and to honor those who perished that day, as well as the first responders who ran towards danger and stayed through the devastating aftermath, and the men and women who stepped up and who continue to step up to keep us safe.

This is Gov. Janet Mills, and on behalf of the 1.4 million people of the state of Maine, we honor those who perished, those who helped, those who stood by us, 25 years ago, Sept. 11, 2001.