Philadelphians remember 9/11 during Old City ceremony

On the 15th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks on the World Trade Center and pentagon dozens of Philadelphia firefighters and police officers marched through Old City to honor first responders and civilians that lost their lives.

Beginning at the Firemen’s Hall Museum members of the Police and Fire Pipe and Drum band warmed up on a bright picturesque day reminiscent of the day the worst attack on American soil was carried out 15 years ago.

As the march made its way to the Betsy Ross House, onlookers and family members of police and firefighters watched and saluted. During a ceremony in the courtyard of the Betsy Ross House Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel called for unity during a divisive time in America.

“I know that on 9/11 all of the first responders and citizens, everybody on the aircraft fought and died together regardless of their background, nationality, race, color, creed, ethnic origin or anything else. They fought and died together,” said Thiel.

Thiel continued, “I would suggest to you that for all of us, regardless of what uniform you’re wearing, or not, regardless of where you came from or where you’re going to that as we say never forget today and everyday that we seek to live in honor of the memory of those who cannot and we seek to remember how they fought and died together.”

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who comes from a firefighter family, also called for unity in his speech saying, “for us to be bogged down in hatred and fear is not what those police and firefighters stood for. They stood for love and for public service and the willingness to give their lives for others.”