Columbia honors victims of Sept. 11 on 21 year anniversary
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Twenty-one years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, members of the Columbia community came together Sunday to remember the victims and those who heroically risked their lives to help others.
The wreath-laying ceremony was held by the city and the University of Missouri. The ceremony included a procession, a wreath-laying and presentation of the colors by the Joint Services Color Guard and City Honor Guards.
With music, song and the presentation of colors, the Columbia community came together to share memories, and to remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9/11.
"Americans are not going to forget this day, because memories like those of Jack Punches need to live on," University of Missouri President Mun Choi said.
Choi spoke about Captain Jack Punches, an MU alumni that lost his life on 9/11 at the attack on the Pentagon.
"During his career he accumulated more than 7,000 flight hours and 50 carrier landings, so literally he was top gun," Choi said.
City leaders highlighted the other Missourians who responded to the scene.
"Missouri Task Force was one of the first ones with wheels up going to the scene to help respond and that's evidence of how Missouri comes together to respond," Buffaloe said.
Those who responded remembered the unity and strength of the American people on that fateful day.
"We went to work we did what was asked of us by FDNY, that was going in and helping move debris and doing searches. It's amazing what we as Americans will do when we pull together. I'm proud to be an American I'm proud to be part of that," said Chuck Leake, Boone County Fire assistant chief and Missouri Task Force 1 member.
