9/11 Day of Remembrance Hosted at City Park in Manhattan
MANHATTAN – Over a hundred people gathered at City Park in Manhattan, KS in remembrance of the 2,977 people who lost their lives during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. The day of events started at 3 p.m. and lasted until 6:30 p.m. In the park, people were able to stick American flags in the ground with each flag having a tag pinned with the name and age of a person who lost their life during the attacks, and where they were (World Trade Center, Pentagon, or one of the flights) totaling 2,977 flags. Alyssa Morris and Colby Stevens played oboes on the Larry Norvell Band Shell stage nearby as flags were being stuck in the ground.
This is the fifth year for this event, which started in 2018, with 2020 being the only year where they did not hold anything due to COVID. Originally, the day was held at Bishop Stadium where it was a more “solemn event” that ended with a video about 9/11. The video is no longer played, though could come back at future events. Since 2021, the event, hosted by Flint Hills Volunteer Center, has held the day at the park, making it more family-friendly to encourage more people to come out by making it earlier in the day, providing kids activities, and giving the youth who aren’t familiar with the events of 9/11 an opportunity to learn about it. The ‘Field of Flags’ was added in 2022.
“[The Field of Flags] is a really interesting field,” Program Services Coordinator Karen Paulus said. “We’re really excited for it. It’s a really great opportunity to come out there, reflect, see the flags, plant a flag or two, and get to take that moment of reflection and think about what happened.”
Coloring pages and other arts and crafts were available for children, and people were able to write their thanks to first responders on a ‘Wall of Gratitude,’ which was being used for the last time before being replaced.
First responders and those serving in the armed forces had some of their vehicles on display for people to look at. Emmanuel Brown drove his semi, which had been wrapped with the names of those who died, along with other words and images commemorating 9/11, all the way from Georgia in order to participate in the day of remembrance. Brown said he sees the semi as a mobile memorial.
“It gives honor to the fire department, the police, and also the paramedics who were also involved in it, so it’s a collaboration of everyone who’s involved,” Brown said. “I got chosen because I had family pass away, so I was a little surprised I got to win this truck. I love driving this truck, I love the people who see it and thumbs up, or blow their horns. It’s really emotional.”
Brown, who applied to drive the truck lost family during the events of 9/11 with his uncle being a firefighter and three other family members working in the building when the plane hit.
Kansas Lieutenant Governor David Toland also joined in honoring those that have lost their lives during 9/11 by placing five flags into the ground before giving a speech.
During his speech, Lt. Gov. Toland told his story of being a 24-year-old working in D.C. during the terrorist attacks. He recalled how, on the morning of September 12, as he was going to work, people were kind and not pushing others, stating that people were their “best selves” that day.
“I guess what I want to ask today, and something for all of us to be thinking about is how can we channel or bring back that sense of common purpose, but do it without a tragedy?” Lt. Gov. Toland said. “Rather than finding that spirit through something terrible, can we channel it around something positive? Something powerful. A vision. A dream of how we can make our communities, our state, our country a little better.”
After Lt. Gov. Toland’s speech, the crowd went inside to enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers prepared by the Riley County Police Department. As people ate, speakers gave special remarks, with Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program Executive Director Jack Lindquist acting as emcee.
Mayor of Manhattan, KS Mark Hatesohl delivered a proclamation, proclaiming September 10, 2023 as 9/11 Day of Remembrance in the city of Manhattan. After Mayor Hatesohl’s proclamation, a Presentation of Colors by the First Infantry Division Color Guard proceeded. Board President Sue Simmons gave a short welcome before the evening’s speakers provided special remarks.
Kansas Volunteer Commission Executive Director Jessica Dorsey recounted her experience of 9/11 and how the world had changed after that day.
“What we find is this reoccurring theme where a national tragedy or a national disaster sparks an outpouring of love from one another,” Dorsey said. “And then, as things progress, as they naturally do, people start to go back to their individualization and themselves. But I would just like to remind us of the quote from Helen Keller that says, ‘Alone, we can do so little, but together we can do so much.’ And that’s really what the Kansas Volunteer Commission is all about…. We don’t need to wait for a national disaster or some sort of event like this to spark this generous spirit.”
AmeriCorps Senior Director Atalaya Sergi thanked all the first responders and volunteers that were at the event and the politicians that were supporting the work of AmeriCorps programs before speaking.
“In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, Americans stepped up to help each other, to help their neighbors, and strangers alike,” Sergi said. “It didn’t matter. We were just there for each other. We took care of those who were injured and displaced in New York and Washington D.C. We comforted those who lost loved ones at all the sites in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. And we helped each other who were fearful, shocked, and trying to figure out what happened. This day of service was inspired by the events that bind our nation with that spirit of service and our commitment to never forget.”
Fort Riley Chief of Staff Brandon Smith started speaking, noting how the events of 9/11 were intended to unravel and destroy us, but only united us with compassion, comradery, and, in his words, “pissing us off.”
“Those who joined after 9/11 is the generation of our military who knowingly volunteered to hold the line,” Smith said. “Like our ancestors before, they understood the cost and possible outcomes.”
The last speaker of the evening was Executive Director of the Governor’s Military Council Lt. Gen. (Retired) Perry Wiggins who spoke on how the “War on Terror was won on 9/11.”
During the time the 9/11 attacks were occurring, Wiggins was in Germany where he watched the attacks happen on TV. One German came up to him and said something he would not soon forget.
“Clearly, the terrorists did not understand this rule,” Wiggins stated. “He said, ‘Don’t wake a sleeping giant.’ …It took me a while to register, but then I understood what he was saying. He was referring to World War II. He was referring to a journal entry made by General Yamamoto who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor…. He listened to the President’s address to see if he had broken the American’s will to fight. Following the address, Yamamoto wrote in his diary… he didn’t actually say it… ‘I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant.’ …That’s what the German was talking about. He understood the American people. And that’s why that on 9/11, the realization that the terrorists had already lost this war was understood by Americans and by the world.”
The evening ended with a Retirement of Colors by the First Infantry Division Color Guard and Taps played by the First Infantry Division Bugler.
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Ian Brannan
Ian Brannan is an independent journalist who founded The Kansas Constitutional in April 2022. His work focuses on issues including abortion, Convention of States, drug policy, education, government, LGBT issues, media, and more. He is also the co-host of the Remember COVID podcast.
