Gainesville remembers 9/11

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville joined the nation Wednesday morning with two memorial events to remember and pay tribute to those who died in the terrorist attack that occurred 12 years ago on a day that came to be known as 9/11.

There was a memorial breakfast, a first time event, at 1st Baptist Church on Green Street hosted by Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch. Featured speaker Lt. Governor Casey Cagle said those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks 12 years ago should be remembered, but it's also important to remember the daily service and dedication of public safety officers.

"Really what today is about is the heroic activity and the service that men and women in uniform do each and every day," Cagle said.

Sheriff Gerald Couch said he hopes the 9/11 memorial breakfast becomes a tradition.

"With the sacrifices that they make, it's appropriate that we recognize those officers for their service to this county and this nation," Couch said.

At the memorial service at Fire Station One on Queen City Parkway, three sets of five fire bell rings broke the mid-morning stillness. Three sets of five means a firefighter has perished in the line of duty.

Gainesville Fire Chief Jerome Yarbrough recalled that 12 years ago 343 New York City firefighters died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center after two hi-jacked jet liners crashed into it. He said the 9/11 memorial service is held so that people won't forget.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the terrorist attacks including Edna Stephens,a Gainesville native who worked at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.and died when one of the hijacked planes crashed there.