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Published: Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Columbiana County honors safety forces

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The treasurer said it was sad that apparently there were no local services.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — A small ceremony here recalled the heroes and victims of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

About 30 people attended the brief lunchtime ceremony Monday at the Salem Fire Department.

Columbiana County Treasurer Linda Bolon said the event was designed in part to recognize safety forces.

"We want to give something back to our heroes, not only in Columbiana County, but those who had fallen on Sept. 11," Bolon said.

She said she had a ceremony because of the apparent lack of memorial events in Columbiana County.

"No one was doing anything. I thought we should," Bolon said.

She added that it was sad there were no local ceremonies planned on the attack's fifth anniversary.

A second reason for the event, she said, was what she and her husband, Tom, saw when they recently drove through Salem. They noticed that the American flags at the police and fire department buildings were worn. The Bolons bought two flags, one for each department.

The ceremony

During the ceremony, Bolon briefly recounted how the first hijacked airplane slammed into the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., followed shortly by a second plane into the second tower.

"And the rest is history," Bolon said.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attack, she recalled, she felt fear and anger.

"I think we all did," she said. "We've changed forever."

She said police and fire departments were the first responders during the attack and remain the first responders in communities. "That's why we're here," she said.

Bolon also recalled Catherine Salter, the 1982 Wellsville High School valedictorian, who was working in New York City.

Salter, 36, was killed after the second plane struck the South Tower. She worked there as an office manager for Aon Corp. on the building's 92nd floor. She was buried in 2002.

Judges attend

Judge Mark Frost and Judge Carol Ann Robb from municipal court came to the ceremony after seeing an announcement. They did not speak.

Judge Frost said after the ceremony, "Now we are just aware of the way things are."

Judge Robb said that it's important that people remember Sept. 11.

She recalled watching the events on television five years ago, saying, "It was like watching a horror movie."

Firefighters raised the first flag provided by Bolon, then lowered it to half-staff. The first flag was eventually lowered, and was replaced with the second flag that was also flown at half-staff.

Inside the fire house, just a few feet from the flagpole, is a trailer with disaster equipment provided by the federal Emergency Management Agency since the attack. Firefighters estimated that their department alone has received $75,000 in equipment and training in the wake of the attacks.

wilkinson@vindy.com

Tuesday, September 12, 2006