Pa. Service Pays Tribute to Those Lost on 9/11

Sept. 09--Tim Solobay thanked the crowd at Conrad Weiser Middle School Tuesday night.

As the years go by, the crowds tend to thin for memorial ceremonies such as the one at the middle school, said Solobay, the state fire commissioner.

But the 170 people in attendance for the 9/11 memorial service, including about 110 first responders, recognized the importance of showing up, he said.

"You get it," Solobay said. "It's been how many years since 9/11 occurred and a lot of other instances have happened across this country, and for whatever reason, a lot of people forget. Each and every one of you who took the time out to be here tonight get it."

The annual 9/11 memorial service in western Berks drew its largest crowd since it started three years ago. Solobay was one of the speakers during the ceremony that recognized firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and military personnel who died during 9/11 and in the line of duty.

Solobay and other speakers said they were proud to be a part of the ceremony, but recognized that there were still plenty of empty seats Tuesday night. They say the duty of remembering 9/11 never fades.

"I thank you for being here," Solobay said. "I thank you for remembering. We need to remember and continue to remember."

The ceremony also honored Marty Hartranft, 67, of Womelsdorf, who died in December. The Vietnam War veteran was part of the team working on this year's 9/11 ceremony, and organizers said he had plenty of plans to help expand the service to recognize the military this year.

Hartranft was well known in the community for his dedication to veterans, said Kindall Wann, a firefighter with the Womelsdorf Volunteer Fire Company.

"We owe Marty a great deal of thanks for everything he contributed to this memorial," he said.

Wann urged the first responders in the audience to share their stories. He said those stories are a part of history that needs to be preserved.

"As long as we don't forget 9/11, it will never go away," Wann said. "We have to remember."

Wann said residents can get involved in 9/11 remembrance events in their communities as a way of keeping that memory alive.

"It's our duty as responders, soldiers and citizens to carry on the call," he said. "Some choose to forget, but we can't forget."

Contact Matthew Nojiri: 610-371-5062 or mnojiri@readingeagle.com.

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