The town of Vancouver hosts its annual Patriot Day occasion remembering lives misplaced on 9/11 on Thursday morning, Sept. 11, 2025. The ceremony featured the Vancouver Hearth and Police Honor Guard, a ceremonial bell ringing, dwell music in addition to remarks from group members and metropolis officers. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian)
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Native dignitaries, together with Vancouver Metropolis Councilor Sarah Fox, a U.S. Military veteran; Vancouver Police Chief Troy Value; Vancouver Deputy Hearth Chief Tony Fletcher; and Cameron Kockritz, deputy director for third District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, recalled the place they had been on 9/11 and urged others to always remember the teachings discovered that day.
“On Sept. 11, 2001, everything went from ordinary to chaos, and we realized there will now forever be a before and an after,” Fox stated. “As we look back and remember, let’s also take a moment to be grateful to be here, on this Earth, living, loving, and experiencing life and ordinary days.”
Fox challenged others to “do a few extraordinary, courageous things.”
“Help your neighbors, even if it’s just raking leaves or stopping to talk for a moment. Volunteer in your community for something you never thought you had time to do. The time is now, and you have time,” she stated. “We are grateful to the heroes in uniform on this day, but let’s not forget that you don’t have to wear a uniform to serve others.”
Value and Fletcher had each served in public security roles for town of Vancouver for lower than 5 years when 9/11 started to unfold.
