By Mary O’KEEFE

On Sept. 11, the Crescenta Valley Motorcade of Remembrance drove through the streets of La Crescenta and La Cañada, passing schools and fire and law enforcement stations to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and to recognize and show appreciation for early responders. Almost 3,000 people died when terrorists used commercial airplanes as weapons, slamming into the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon and a field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Among those victims were 343 New York City firefighters, 23 New York City police officers and 37 officers at the Port Authority.

Quoting a New York Times newspaper report at the time of the attack, Glendale Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas said, “The most remarkable sight was the wave of determined firefighters advancing toward the burning sky.”

Lanzas made his remarks during an early morning memorial at GFD Station 29 where firefighters were joined by members of the Crescenta Valley Armenian Community and Youth Center.

Lanzas shared that he had traveled to New York shortly after the attacks to support the NYFD. He said the department had so many funerals to attend and not enough firefighters. He recalled that his dear friend James Dowdell, who was this year’s keynote speaker at the San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, had just turned 17 on Sept. 10, 2001. His dad, Kevin, wanted to take him out to dinner but, being a typical teenager, he declined in order to go out with friends.

On Sept. 11 his father responded to the Twin Towers catastrophe; he died that day and his body was never recovered.

“That is just one story of hundreds that happened that day because of the evil actions of a group of terrorists that tried to cripple this great country,” Lanzas said. “As we stand here this morning and honor them we are living proof they did not succeed.”

After the motorcade, in the evening there was a somber ceremony at Bob Smith Toyota in La Crescenta attended by community members and civic leaders to honor and remember those who perished on 9/11.

Photos by Jackie BODNAR, Dick CLUBB, Mary O’KEEFE,

Viehanoosh NAZARIAN
and Brandy YI

  Mary Okeefe