Local Officials Gather For 9-11 Ceremony
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The lasting impact of the 9-11 disaster that occurred 23 years ago was recalled with poignancy Monday morning, as local officials and first responders gathered for a commemoration ceremony on the St. Landry Parish Courthouse steps.
Sponsored by the parish government and the St. Landry Veterans Memorial volunteer group, the annual event was originally scheduled on Wednesday, but organizers delayed several days due to Hurricane Francine.
District Attorney Chad Pitre reminded those attending that Sept. 11, 2001, was a catastrophic event recorded in real time on national television, as four hijacked commercial airliners slammed into a pair of New York high-rise office buildings, the Pentagon and a rural Pennsylvania field as passengers attempted to reclaim control of the aircraft.
“For our generation 9-11 is similar to what Pearl Harbor was for our parents’ generation. All of us remember where we were and what we were doing when tragedy struck,” said District Attorney Chad Pitre.
Pitre said ceremonies similar to the one held on Monday are essential as a continuous reminder of what Pitre said was “not only the horror that occurred, but the patriotism and love of nation that followed.”
Pat Mason-Guillory, director of the St. Landry Veterans Memorial project, said that 9-11 will always be considered as a day of grief and remembrance when nearly 3,000 men, women and children lost their lives in just several hours.
Mason-Guillory said those whose lives were lost or affected during those short moments on 9-11, woke up on that day unaware what would eventually happen to them later that day or that they would never return.
“It reminds us that we should never take our lives for granted. We are also reminded of the sacrifices made by the first responders on that day and the men and women, including those in our military who put their lives on the line for us everyday,” Mason-Guillory added.
Parish president Jessie Bellard said that 23 years ago on 9-11, it was his first day as a fire department captain at the Opelousas Fire Department.
Bellard said 9-11 For firefighters, 9-11 will always be a reminder that firefighters play a prominent role in responding.
“I think 9-11 made us realize how valuable our jobs (as firefighters) are today. You never know when your team is going to be needed to respond to a disaster,” Bellard said.
Bellard said that the OFD played a role in assisting with 9-11, as the department sent first responders to Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.
The department also led an effort that collected $20,000 to assist in paying for replacing New York City fire trucks.
Many first responders, Bellard said, are among those whose lives were lost on 9-11, as they attempted to save others.
Sheriff Bobby Guidroz recognized parish and municipal first responders and emergency medical personnel who attended the event.
Mercedes Major, who represented Opelousas City Court, provided a chronological description of each hijacking event, including the take off time of each airplane and when they crashed into the New York City Towers, Pentagon and the ground in Shanksville, Pa.
