American Legion Post 28 honors 9/11 victims
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 hosted its 15th annual 9/11 Healing and Remembrance Candlelight Ceremony Sept. 11 at Oak Orchard-Riverdale Post 28 off Route 24.
Participants included the Post 28 Honor Guard; Delaware State Police Pipes and Drums; emcee and event coordinator and Auxiliary Vice President Beth McGinn; Chaplain Robin Airey; Post 28 Commander Joe Brown, “God Bless America” sung by Judy Mangini; and Past Commanders Jim Lafferty and Lee Glasco providing a POW/MIA ceremony. Speakers included Tina Washington, American Legion Department of Delaware executive secretary, and Jonathan Miller, commander of American Legion Squadron 28.
Auxiliary President June Jones and junior members Riley and Skyler Schmidt took part in a presentation of the 9/11 Freedom Flag, which has only been adopted by two states other than Delaware, Jones said.
“It’s a day of service and remembrance and also a catalyst for love and compassion,” Washington said.
She said it’s important to keep the victims’ families in our thoughts and especially those families who have not had closure. Washington said tests are ongoing to identify victims’ remains 22 years after the attacks, with two victims, including a mother, having been identified so far this year, which are first since 2021. Another 1,104 victims of the nearly 3,000 killed remain unidentified.
The attacks
8:46 a.m. – Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.
9:03 a.m. – Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower. Both towers collapse within 1 hour 40 minutes, killing 2,763 people and destroying all five buildings in the complex.
9:37 a.m. – Flight 77 crashes into the west wall of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., with 184 victims.
10:03 a.m. – Flight 93 crashes in a field near Shanksville, Pa., after passengers overpowered terrorists and were able to divert the flight path from Washington, D.C., with 40 victims.
