Families and friends gathered with the area’s emergency service works at Upper Moreland High School to pay tribute to the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, on its 10th anniversary Sunday.
The service was held by the Third District Fire Chiefs, which include companies from Rockledge, Huntingdon Valley, Bryn Athyn, Willow Grove, Horsham and Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro.
“Everyone in this room can remember where you were,” Huntingdon Valley Fire Company Chaplain Paul Randolph said. “I can remember that day clearly.”
During the ceremony Upper Moreland Police Department presented the colors in a procession of flags. The American flag led the way down the aisle to stop in front of the auditorium stage for the pledge of allegiance.
“Today, on this 10th anniversary we pause and remember,” Randolph said.
He said that it was ordinary individuals who are remembered that worked as first responders and went into the Twin Towers to rescue people, and those passengers that overcame their hijackers on United flight 93.
In addition to remembering the 403 emergency service workers that died on Sept. 11, the district fire chiefs paid tribute to two first responders – John Kulick and Tristan Smith, who both joined the military in response to the attacks and died in action.
Smith joined Bryn Athyn Fire Company at the age of 16. In 2004 Smith joined the U.S. Army. He was mobilized and sent into Iraq and was killed Aug. 27, 2006.
Kulick joined Enterprise Fire Company in Hatboro at age 16 as a junior volunteer. He eventually became full-time and worked at fire stations for various townships in Montgomery County. In March 2003 Kulick joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and in June 2004 was mobilized into Iraq. Kulick was killed Aug. 9, 2005.
“I’m a better man for knowing [Kulick],” Enterprise Fire Company Assistant Chief Jim Anders said. “There will never be another man like John Kulick.”
The service included a slideshow of photos from Sept. 11, a speech by state Rep. Tom Murt, prayers by clergy from several faiths, and the singing of the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
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