Retired NYPD officers join CFCC 9/11 remembrance
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Community College held a remembrance ceremony Friday to honor those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The ceremony included several moments of remembrance and brought together retired New York Police Department officers, local fire cadets and area public safety agencies.
New Hanover County Fire Rescue and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office participated, along with Pender County Fire and EMS.
The remembrance also included the traditional striking of the four fives and the laying of a memorial wreath at CFCC’s 9/11 monument.
Retired NYPD officers who now live in the Wilmington area also took part and shared their experiences from Sept. 11.
Dr. Shane Guyant, chair of CFCC’s Public Safety Programs Department, said having people who experienced the attacks share their stories was especially meaningful for students who were not yet born in 2001.
“We were so fortunate this year that we actually had a group of retired NYPD that live here in the area now to participate and to give their story and to talk about what had happened,” Guyant said. “It’s just a very somber moment but it’s a very great way to honor those from that particular day.”
Guyant said many of the cadets now attending the college were born after the attacks.
“There are so many of our cadets that are coming to school now that weren’t even alive then and here at Cape Fear we’re going to at least spend that day honoring the incidents of that day,” he said.
CFCC said its student-made 9/11 monument serves as a continuing reminder of the first responders who ran toward danger that day and helps preserve their stories for future generations.
