ROTARIANS IN THE NEWS

 

PP Dan Matthews and Perry Twp. Rotarian Steve Toohey 

 

Posted Sep 11, 2020 at 3:08 PM

   

 

MASSILLON Nineteen years ago, as the dust settled and the country began to see the gravity of the events of the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Americans stood together.

The color of your skin, religious beliefs, status in life and political affiliation didn’t matter.

 

“We stood as one nation,” Steve Toohey, president of Operation Flags of Freedom, told a small group gathered Friday at pbs Animal Health, at 2780 Richville Drive SE.

 

Toohey served as the speaker for a 9/11 tribute hosted by the pet supply store. He was joined by local dignitaries and area first responders.

 

He recalled the clear, crisp morning of Sept. 11.

 

“This country and world was turned upside down,” he said. “We all remember that day. Where we were at and what we were doing.”

 

When the first plane struck the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., Americans hoped it was a freak accident, but 17 minutes later when the second plane hit the other tower, the country knew it was under attack, he said.

 

When Flight 77 hit the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., the United States was at war, Toohey said. When the final plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa., Americans knew it was time to start fighting back, he said.

 

Life would never be the same.

 

Thousands of innocent lives were lost that day, including 343 New York City firefighters, 23 New York City police officers and 37 New York Port Authority officers.

 

Those left to mourn the dead would soon be mourning others who helped in the cleanup and recovery efforts who were stricken by cancer and respiratory diseases brought on by their service.

 

Several thousands of businesses collapsed after the attacks and the economy was left in limbo, Toohey said.

 

Since then, Americans have been living in uncertain times.

 

“We are suspicious of people that are different from us and are wearing a backpack,” Toohey said. “Evil is among us and it is looking for the next moment to strike.”

 

The war on terrorism has left more than 7,000 U.S. troops killed in action and many more who have served are left with physical and emotional scars they deal with daily, he said.

“It was a tragic day, but we stood together as Americans,” he said. “Tell your children about it. Tell you children they have the power to make our country, our world a better place to live.”

 

Dan Matthews, president of pbs Animal Health, thanked military members, veterans and first responders for their service, taking a moment to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

 

He asked those attending to take the time to consider how they could make the world more peaceful.

 

“With the deeply troubled tone of discourse in our country, my prayer for everyone in the community is to take a more loving compassionate attitude toward each other,” Matthews added.