State Rep. Shannon Erickson urges unity, honors first responders at Beaufort Patriot Day

State Representative Shannon Erickson, who represents South Carolina’s 124th District and chairs the House Education and Public Works Committee, was the keynote speaker at Beaufort’s Patriot Day ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Erickson praised first responders and recounted visiting the 9/11 memorial in New York, saying the visit reinforced the community’s duty to service.

"When the chips are down, I'll put all of my things in the people in this country," Erickson said, urging residents to place trust in civic bonds and public service. She recalled the Federal Aviation Administration’s emergency grounding that put roughly 4,500 planes on the ground and described the visit to the memorial as a solemn lesson on loss and resilience.

Erickson framed her remarks around the ceremony’s theme of remembering civilian victims and honoring responders, saying the community’s military ties give Beaufort a particular responsibility to model unity. She closed by asking attendees to "remember how it felt on 09/12," calling on residents to translate remembrance into continued service and compassion.

The event, organized by the Exchange Club with participation from local civic groups and school ROTC units, awarded local first responders and included prayers and reflections from clergy and municipal leaders. Erickson’s remarks were part of a program that also recognized firefighters, EMS personnel and law enforcement officers for the past year.