As 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Approaches, Catonsville Remembers, Reflects

Residents of Catonsville and Arbutus paused Friday to reflect on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, which occurred 10 days ago Sunday.

At the , a ceremony was held at 11 a.m. with speeches from area fire and police personnel.

At Catonsville High School, an announcement was made over the loud speaker in the morning. Social studies teachers also discussed the events in their classes Friday or Monday, teacher Geraldine Hastings said. Social studies teachers at Catonsville Middle School also planned lessons throughout the week, Principal Micheal Thorne said.

At all campuses, a moment of silence was held at 12 p.m. Friday. Also on each campus, a room was reserved for students to sign posters reflecting on that day.

At , the Women's Center on campus was open Friday and as a place for reflection for students. The campus will also hold a flag ceremony on Monday at 8 a.m. and also screen the film "102 Minutes That Changed America" throughout the day.

At Charlestown's ceremony, more than 150 people filled the Erickson Conference Center to hear police and firefighters talk about how their lives were affected that day.

Maryland Delegate James Malone said he started crying when he saw the first tower of the World Trade Center fall because he knew many firefighters inside would die. Malone is a longtime member of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department.

Captain Dan Brinkley, a member of the Catonsville Fire Department Station 4, noted that the more than 300 firefighters who perished that day is equivalent to the number of firefighters on duty in Baltimore County and then half of those who later come in on duty.

"I was horrified," he said. "My emotions went in so many ways."

Esi Yarney, a former paramedic in New York City, was involved in the response effort after the attacks from her fire station in the Bronx.

"The whole nation was bent low in its grief and I could not see how I, one individual, would not break from this tragedy," she said.

What Yarney said she was able to stand on after the attacks was the strength of others and the hope that the events would make her and the nation stronger.

"We will never forget, I will never forget and this nation will never forget," she said.