Eagle County honors the memory of 9/11 victims with events from Vail to Eagle
Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily
It’s been a strange week for students at Battle Mountain High School. But student Sage Leffler was touched by Wednesday’s ceremony commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S., and the aftermath of those days.
“I think it’s beautiful that our community can come out and reconnect together,” Leffler said. “Even though this is kind of tragic, I feel like this makes our community stronger and keeps us younger generations informed on our past … since we weren’t born yet. I love having people coming out and talking to us, taking time out of the day and all the respect that everybody has here.”
That respect was shown by emergency responders joining a caravan from Vail to Freedom Park in Edwards, from police to firefighters to a medical helicopter crew.
Most of those responders were still quite young when the attacks took place. Brian Nagel of the Eagle River Fire Protection District was in ninth grade at the time. He said his first class that day was American History.
“It’s just always been with me,” he said.
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Firefighter Ethan Merrit’s fiancé is a retired lieutenant with the New York Police Department who responded to Ground Zero that day, “So 9-11 has grown more (in) significance to me throughout the years and being able to honor them … I hope to be able to carry that on throughout my career.”
The Freedom Park memorial honors Eagle County’s military fallen, as well as first responders who have died in the line of duty. Its centerpiece is a piece of marble take from the Pentagon after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Eagle County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Todd Burpo thanked those gathered for the ceremony. Those who refuse to forget are the reason these memorial events are important, he said.
Burpo recited the grim toll of the attacks, one that continues to climb due to delayed trauma and illness. In addition to the 343 New York City firefighters who died rushing into the World Trade Center towers that day, another 300 have died due to the effects of toxic contaminant exposure, traumatic injuries and other causes. Thousands of others have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions due to exposure to dust, smoke, debris and trauma from the attacks.
Local veteran Clark Shively played “Taps” during the ceremony. It was the second event he’d been to Wednesday, following one earlier in the day at Eagle Ranch. That one, he said, had been well attended, with a good amount of money going into a scholarship fund for local students.
The Lodge at Vail also held a breakfast event Wednesday morning for first responders. Lodge Manager Christopher McRoy said the event, now in its third year, is a way to thank first responders, including ski patrol and mountain rescue as well as police, fire and paramedic personnel.
“It’s a perfect time to say thank you,” McRoy said, adding that he hoped that as many as 140 people might attend the event through the morning.
Vail Police Detective Abigail Castillo was among those in attendance. She said she appreciated the thanks. “It feels amazing to get together and remember such a terrible day,” she said. “We’re here to honor them, and (continue) keeping the watch for them.”
Tricia Swenson contributed reporting to this story.
