The Veterans Group of San Quentin hosted a memorial event during Mental Wellness week to commemorate the 24-year anniversary since 2,977 victims were killed in the 911 terrorist attacks.
In collaboration with the Mental Health Department, VGSQ and SQ residents participated in multiple activities to solidify the importance of remembering, grieving and honoring the bravery of the thousands of lives lost on that tragic day.
SQ resident Jose Maya said he was only one-year-old when these attacks occurred.
“It’s important to recognize and give gratitude to those who were willing to die to save others,” Maya said. ” To hear all these stories from everybody really shows the impact the attacks continue to have on our country.”
The stage on the Lower-Yard was the centerpiece for the memorial event, the VGSQ started the event with a performance of the National Anthem and the Star-Spangled Banner while the SQ Color Guard displayed the United States National flag.
VGSQ resident Steve Drown delivered an emotional speech that began by asking the crowd, “where were you on September 11, 2001.”
Drown’s personal recollection of that day included seeing on TV the North Tower of the World Trade Center hit by a jet liner on. He said he saw people jumping from the building nearly 100 floors up, to avoid being burned to death.
While viewing the tragedy on TV Drown recalled the towers collapsing and killing thousands that were still trapped inside.
“That began one of the most heart-wrenching days for me and escalated into a tragedy that affected all of us,” Drown said. “It became one of the most tragic events in American history.”
He added that nations that enjoy their freedom must actively fight terror, and today humanity holds in its hands the opportunity to further freedoms and triumph over all these foes.
The VGSQ held a moment of silence and rang a bell four separate times as the morning progressed to recognize each time hijackers seized control of the jet liners filled with of passengers.
SQ Mental Health Department held a memorial walk around SQ’s Lower Yard in honor of the nearly 400 Police Officers, Firefighters and Medical Personnel that rushed to the World Trade Center in an effort to rescue the people.
Suicide Prevention coordinator Dr. E. Anderson alongside Dr. Ortiz distributed sticky labels to participants with the names and faces of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save U.S. citizens.
Hundreds of people lined up after the memorial walk to post sticky labels on a memorial board in honor of all the lives lost.
Included on the board was a previous message written by Police Officer Joseph Campbell wrote that said “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself,” according to Campbell.