Elyria: Ely Square

The Elyria community came together at Ely Square in remembrance of 9/11 in the 7th annual candlelight service.

The annual event marks the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania where nearly 3,000 people lost their lives.

The evening ceremony included a number of musical performances in addition to the Elyria VFW Post 1079 color guard.

Mayor Holly Brinda honored the victims, survivors and recalled her own experience on that day where she was in a staff meeting at Cleveland State University before the building went into immediate lockdown.

“When something like that happens you just freeze and go through the motions. But what made it more devastating for my family was my daughter’s senior trip to New York City was five days before that,” Brinda said.

She said the memories were so fresh from the trip that the photographs were sitting on the coffee tables, yet to be opened while watching news coverage of the events.

“I remember the innocence of my daughter’s face just going out of it in disbelief that we could’ve been there. We lost our innocence in that moment,” Brinda added.

Despite the tragedy of loss and rebuilding, Brinda emphasized her own transformation and that of America.

“As much as I saw our country change from the events of 9/11, a new dimension to my life began. I didn’t stop living like you didn’t stop living. I simply saw life differently. I appreciate my country even more,” she said.

“I started thanking firefighters and police and the military every time I passed them. This tradition continues today. You’re here 17 years later. Like you I hold this in deep reverence. I know that we will never be the same, but in a sense we are more unified than ever.”

The candlelight ceremony was organized by Bobbie Sears and Heather Sorg who began the annual event in 2011 to mark the 10th anniversary.

For Sears remembering 9/11 is in part about being thankful for what we do have as Americans.

I think day-to-day we all take a lot for granted. We take for granted that we’re going to come home every day. We take for granted when we send our kids off to school that they’re going to be coming home,” Sears said.

“So I think it’s just opened our eyes and I’m really glad that all of us as a community can get together and share our ideas and share the feelings that we have that can make us united a little bit more.”