As Portage residents gathered on a Friday morning for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Mayor Austin Bonta and Assistant Police Chief Ted Uzelac emphasized the importance of remembering both September 11 and the sense of unity on September 12. Mayor Bonta spoke about the need to keep alive the spirit of unity felt in the aftermath of the attacks, urging people to remember how the nation came together.
Reflecting on a conversation with a high school student, Bonta shared that the sense of community felt in Portage after a recent storm was similar to that experienced post-9/11. He highlighted the nation’s collective mourning and assistance, noting that unity was temporarily followed by a return to normal disagreements. Bonta stressed that young people, even those not born at the time of the attacks, should learn about the response to maintain this feeling in the country’s consciousness.
Assistant Police Chief Uzelac urged the gathering to look beyond the loss and remember the unity and selfless service that defined that day. He illustrated how people from all walks of life, including firefighters, police officers, and civilians, risked their lives to help others.
“These were not superheroes; these were men and women who had made a quiet decision on that day. The call came, and they answered it,” Uzelac said.
He emphasized that unity appeared in actions like flying flags, donating blood, and attending vigils, showing that while political disagreements persisted, people recognized the need to stand together as a nation.
Principal Jon Evers from Myers Elementary School contributed to the event by having students plant pinwheels, symbolizing peace and unity. Evers recalled his own memories of September 11, having witnessed the events unfold during his ninth-grade class.
Uzelac recounted his experience as a police officer and a reservist, deploying to Iraq to support elections. His experiences further underscored the theme of unity transcending borders.
The ceremony included personal reflections from various officials who recalled their experiences on September 11, 2001. Retired Fire Chief Randy Wilkening and Portage firefighter Tyler Rosenbaum shared their memories of the day, underscoring the profound impact it had on their lives and careers.
The commemoration served as a reminder of the importance of remembering both the tragedy and the unity that followed, reinforcing the need for continued collective resilience and compassion.