Fresno area remembers, honors lives lost on 9/11

Honor. Educate. Remember the 2,977 lives lost: 2544 civilians, 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers and 19 hijackers. To honor the memory of those who died, hundreds gathered in Clovis for the California 9/11 Memorial, in a solemn ceremony, Sept. 11, on the former Pelco property.

Millions gathered together in communities across the country to remember this landmark event in U.S. and world history, honoring and celebrating the heroics of first responders and their sacrifice.

The attacks on September 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Flight 93’s crash onto an open field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, are classified by History.com as the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. 

In the face of these attacks, the late former Pelco CEO, David McDonald, chartered five planes in December of 2011 to bring some of the attacks’ first responders to Clovis for a local memorial service. For 18 years since then, ceremonies honoring the lives lost during 9/11 occur every year in Clovis at a memorial largely built by McDonald, featuring a bronze plaque, flag and, most recently, memorials of the WTC and Pentagon.

Retired New York City firefighter Andy Isolano spoke during the ceremony about the importance of remembering this event. Isolano emphasized the unification 9/11 brought. Sharing some of his story, he remembers watching the attacks unfold atop the firehouse roof with some of his fellow firefighters.

“We saw the second plane hit the second tower and that’s when we realized it wasn’t an accident and that we were under attack,” Isolano says while pausing to hold back tears. “And a guy in my firehouse was the first guy killed; he had gotten hit by a jumper. And when the smoke cleared, I lost 13 close friends and there were 343 fellow firefighters gone. So it was a rough day.”

This year, the first of two expansions of the memorial were highlighted: a 1/100th scale of the twin towers and Pentagon. Both the towers and Pentagon were engraved with the names of the first responders who lost their lives. Featured alongside the replicas are two bronze firemen statues. 

Although only newly established, the official California 9/11 Memorial is taking over for McDonald and will continue the event. Executive Director of the California 9/11 Memorial, Anna Borgeas, says the expansion’s aim is to educate students about the impact of the September 11 attacks. Involved in Armenian and Greek communities in the Fresno area, Borgeas’ husband, Andreas Borgeas, serves in the California State Senate representing the state’s eighth district.

“Our charge is to honor, educate and remember,” Borgeas said. “And education is a huge component. That is why we have a living history of the [buildings] that were attacked and storyboards so that students and people from all over can come and learn about 9/11. We hope high schoolers learn how America came together on September 12.”

The memorial officially started at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the north tower. Radio dispatch calls from the day were played preceding sirens and the lowering of the flag. Following ABC30 Action News co-anchor Margot Kim’s rendition of the National Anthem, a wreath procession and instrumental version of “Amazing Grace” played.

Soon after, the Marine Corps performed a 21 gun salute and Isolano gave his speech. The ringing of a fire bell three times signaled the end of the memorial. 

The following tweet features some additional pictures from the California 9/11 Memorial.

The 18th annual California 9-11 Memorial unveils a new memorial, featuring scaled replicas of the World Trade Center & Pentagon.
Former NYC first responder Andy Isolano gave a speech honoring the lives lost. #September11 #neverforget @fresnochristian #thefeather pic.twitter.com/smRnSonibo

— The Feather Online (@thefeather) September 11, 2019

Acting Police Chief of Fresno, Andy Hall attended the event and strives to remind others that these people lost their lives simply for being Americans. Although still technically deputy chief, Hall’s official promotion will come in October following current Police Chief Jerry Dyer’s retirement.

“We honor the people that came before us,” Hall said, “and those who are going to come after us, to fight for our freedom. I think it’s important to remind everybody that freedom isn’t free; it’s paid for with the with our blood of our children.”

During the weeks after the attacks, Isolano worked to clean and restore the remains of the World Trade Center, which rescue workers referred to as “the pile”. Due to the losses he experienced, Isolano fell into a dark spiral of which he credits McDonald with saving him from. During his speech, Isolano focused on the importance of unity, a notion echoed by other various first responders and military personnel at the event.

“On September 12, everybody was American,” Isolano said. “Nobody was brown or black or white. Everybody was American; everybody was treated but were willing to help each other. And I want to see 9/12 come back again.”

In New York, family members of those who lost their lives gathered on the morning of September 11, 2019 in the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The ceremony included a reading of the names of the lives lost, and two moments of silence: one for each plane.

In the Marine Corps from 1974-76, veteran Herminio Sauceda values not only the Clovis ceremony on 9/11 but the memorial itself and plans on visiting again. Sauceda mirrors Isolano’s thoughts on the unity that the attacks brought.

“I believe that back in the times when there was division within our own communities, our own races and our own people,” Sauceda said; “this brought us all back together. We have to unite. We have to stay strong as a nation. And as a people, we have to commit to the safety of the United States of America.”

Hijacked by al-Qaida associates, four planes were destined to crash into various buildings around the east coast. The 9/11 attacks started with the crashing of Flight 11 into the north tower of the World Trade Center, 8:46 a.m. At 9:03 a.m., Flight 175 crashed into the south tower, which soon collapsed less than an hour later. These attacks totaled to around 1.8 million tons of debris and wreckage that took approximately nine months to clean.

At around 9:40 a.m., another plane crashed into the Pentagon and exploded into a fireball, instantly killing 125 people inside the Pentagon plus all those in the plane. The final flight, Flight 93, remains the only plane unsuccessful in the attempted hijacking and attack. Due to civilian revolts, the plane ended up crashing into an empty field in Pennsylvania. 

Thank you to producer Austin Peterson and videographer Ethan Hamm for the following Feather Online video of the California 9/11 Memorial, Sept. 11, 2019.

Fresno area honors 18th California 9/11 Memorial – Clovis from The Feather Online on Vimeo.

Kevin Kerney, principal at Reyburn Intermediate, brought students to the event in hopes of them gaining a better understanding of 9/11. Kerney desires for students to see the connection between their history classes and events that are closer in time but still impactful. 

“Obviously, these kids weren’t born yet,” Kerney said. “So it may be hard for them to understand the magnitude of what happened that day. So by coming to an event like this, they can see or hear people that were there and have that experience and maybe through that, learn something.”

The following tweet from the New York Times features an article about the 9/11 memorial in New York.

18 years after nearly 3,000 people were lost, families of those killed in the terror attacks will gather at the 9/11 memorial. There will be a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., then the names of the dead — one by one — will be recited. https://t.co/rFn2evf1dA

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 11, 2019

A student at Selma High School, Anthony Gomez, ‘21, enjoyed the memorial’s opportunity to speak with those who experienced 9/11 firsthand. 

“It’s sad to see how people jumped off the buildings,” Gomez said, “and then to see the actions of the firefighters who went to work to save people and ended up dying. It’s really sad, but it’s built us and made us who we are now.”

Mayor of Clovis since March, Drew Bessinger recognizes 9/11 as one of the pivotal moments in his life. Bessinger retired from the Clovis police department in 2017 and was mayor pro-tem on the Clovis City Council until his election to office.

“One of the things that we have to remember is that people sacrifice themselves to save others,” Bessinger said, “and that continues to this day. We have to never forget that the price of freedom is vigilance and strength. That’s what my profession does; that’s what the fire service does, that’s what the military does: we run towards the things that scare you.”

The California 9/11 Memorial also hosted poetry, art and logo contests featuring work from Fresno County 7-12th grade students. In honor of the lives lost on 9/11 and David McDonald, the works were showcased at a ceremony later in the day, 3:30 p.m.

The grand prize for the contest was a paid trip to New York and a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. The winning logo award was a $1,000 scholarship and the winning logo featured on event materials. 

According to their website, “the California 9-11 Memorial was organized to continue recognizing and honoring the civilians who were killed along with the fallen fire personnel, peace officers and military personnel and all first responders who died in the line of duty, while attempting to preserve and save human lives during the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001.”

Remember to thank local first responders and military whenever they are encountered, not only on events such as 9/11, but throughout the year. Although events such as 9/11 proved to be a tragic tale in the U.S.’ history, choose to remember the loss but focus on the unity that this event continues to bring.

The California 9/11 Memorial is located at 3500 Never Forget Lane, Clovis, CA, 93612, and is open year round to the public with a tribute event held each anniversary. This is just south of the corner of Peach and Ashlan avenues in Clovis.

For last year’s article about 9/11, read Clovis residents rally together to honor 9/11 servicemen. For more articles, read COLUMN: President strives for inclusivity or Seniors: Application, tests, deadlines. Oh my!

Vijay Stephen can be reached via Twitter.

Bryce Foshee can be reached via email. 

Thank you to photographer Braden Bell for the pictures in the following slideshow featuring some highlights of the California 9/11 Memorial, Sept. 11, 2021.

California 9/11 Memorial honors, remembers lives lost

Gallery • 18 Photos