Chatham County marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with remembrance and praise for first responders

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners opened its Sept. 11 meeting with an invocation and a formal remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Pastor Manuel Lehi of Central Christian Church led a scripture-based invocation and urged commissioners to be “careful and wise” in decisions that affect county residents.

Chief Vickers of the Chatham County Fire Department addressed the commission and recounted the sacrifice of first responders on Sept. 11 and the continuing health impacts. “We honor their courage. We honor their sacrifice,” he said, describing the continuing care needs of survivors and responders and noting the scale of the loss among emergency personnel.

The chair and several commissioners thanked first responders and tied the commemoration to county commitments to public-safety funding and preparedness. The ceremony also included the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence; county staff and chiefs asked residents and elected officials to remember victims and support current responders' safety and health needs.