The memory of September 11, 2001 will forever linger with many of us, but the young athletes who participated in a memorial observance on a pleasantly perfect late-summer evening were not yet alive on that fateful day.
Local retired and active-duty police, fire, first responders and military personnel and their families were honored guests Saturday at Marlboro Senior High School for the varsity soccer game between Marlboro and Minisink Valley. Players from both teams participated in the pregame ceremony, along with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Color Guard. The ceremony honored the victims of 9-11 as well as the 13 service members who died on August 26, 2021 at Kabul Afghanistan Airport, helping citizens evacuate during the U.S. military withdrawal of that country.
“When you think of the word hero, what comes to mind? Captain America, Spider Man, a professional football player, Marlboro’s own professional baseball player Wade Davis….” asked Marlborough Police Patrol Officer Curt Fulton….. “how about the pictures of the servicemen and women on the banners all through the township who served our country?”
Fulton recounted the events of 9-11, including the deliberate crashing of Flight 11 into the north tower of the World Trade Center, the deliberate crashing of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center and the deliberate crashing of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon building in Arlington, VA.
“The attacks of 9-11 showed us the worst in people,” Fulton said, “but it was also a time when many wonderful, passionate, heroic deeds occurred. Heroes were everywhere on 9-11 and in the days afterwards.”
Fulton noted that many members of our own community rushed to the scene that morning, including firefighters, paramedics, first responders, police officers, doctors and nurses from this and other Hudson Valley communities.
“There are thousands of individual stories from that day, recounting acts of bravery, heroism, sacrifice, generosity and compassion,” Fulton said. “To the heroes present here today, these are your stories, and we thank you for your dedication to our communities as well as your commitment to serve your country without abandon.”
The ceremony including the placing of roses at a makeshift memorial set up in front of the stands. The roses - red for love, white for the memorials placed at the victims’ birthdays and yellow for those who served in the military - were placed by members of the Marlboro and Minisink Valley soccer teams.
On August 26, 2021, 13 service men and women died at the hands of terrorists at the Kabul Airport while attempting to assist people escaping from the terrorists during the American withdrawal from the region. A photo of each appeared on the memorial table next to a pair of combat boots. They were each honored with a flag placed on the table next to the photos.
The final touch was wreaths placed on the table by each team captain.