9/11 terrorist attacks remembered at Lake Bruce

Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM

By Shelby Lopez

Wednesday marked 23 years since the day nearly 3,000 people lost their lives when hijackers crashed airliners into New York City's Twin Towers, a Pennsylvania field and the Pentagon.

For most Americans, the day stands as a reminder for a tragedy that will never be forgotten. For the past 13 years, former Valparaiso Fire Chief Joe McLee has brought a remembrance of the day to Lake Bruce in rural Fulton County by hosting a 9/11 Memorial Day Ceremony in his yard. A little more than two dozen community members gathered for the ceremony this year, including Fulton County Sheriff Travis Heishman and Jail Commander Cathi Collins.

The event started with a speech by McLee, who gave tribute to the hundreds of firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers, which represented 10 different agencies and died as a direct result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Attendees at the ceremony shared stories of where they had been during that fateful day, prayers, and a moment of silence.

"It's a day that must never be forgotten," McLee told the crowd. Although small, and in a rural location, McLee plans on continuing the tradition for the future.