FULTON – Oswego County Today talked with several city councilors, including the mayor and Pastor Steve Nehlsen of the Fulton Alliance Church at the 911 ceramonies Wednesday.
We asked Pastor Nehlsen, Do you remember where you were when 911 happened? Pastor Nehlsen replied, “Funny, you had asked me that I was in West Africa
and I was watching it on the news as it unfolded, and was blown away. I was just completely blown away. But I was living in West Africa at the time, and somebody called me up and said, You need to get over here and and see what’s going on on television. As far as I knew, it was another peaceful day in America, sure. And then when I watched it, this can’t be. This doesn’t happen in our country, right? That’s our country. We’ve got all the skies protected everything else and but as it went on, I realized this is reality.” I asked him, Do you think it’s getting lost in the public’s memory? “Yeah, I believe that, like anything in our memories.
It is, it is kind of out of sight. We got a whole generation of kids coming through life that never, ever, ever really experienced it and saw it even, you know, so I think, yeah, it’s very possible for the memories to be lost, but I think events like this help to keep it in front of people a little bit more.”
I asked Mayor Rice where he was when the 911 attack happened. He recalls being at home with their preschool-aged daughters when the events unfolded. The fear and uncertainty were palpable, with every plane seen in the sky causing alarm. Mr. Rice added he hopes that the memory of the 9/11 attacks is not fading, emphasizing the significance of the importance of remembering to prevent history from being forgotten.
Councilman Jeffrey Cobb and Councilwoman Audrey Avery recounted their experiences on September 11, 2001. Cobb was at a nuclear power plant and felt the gravity of the situation as the attacks progressed. Like many, Avery was at work in Baldwinsville and initially thought the first plane hitting the World Trade Center was an accident. Both emphasize the somber mood and the impact on their lives. They express concern that younger generations may not fully understand or remember the events, highlighting the importance of keeping the memory alive to honor those who perished and to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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