SPOKANE, Wash. — Approximately 70 people gathered at Riverside Memorial Park on Friday morning to rededicate a 9/11 memorial, share stories from that day and honor those who lost their lives in the attacks 25 years ago.
The ceremony brought together community members, first responders and individuals who experienced the tragedy firsthand. For many in attendance, the morning served as a moment to reflect on where they were when the attacks occurred and how the events shaped their lives and careers.
Rick Valentine, a Spokane resident, underscored the significance of the gathering and the importance of remembrance.
“3,000 people lost their lives, and they need to be memorialized and remembered,” Valentine said.
First responders emphasized the lasting impact of September 11 on their profession. Ethan Wynecoop, a police officer with Spokane International Airport police, reflected on how the attacks resonated far beyond the East Coast.
“Even though that event occurred on the other side of this continent, it really touched us all,” Wynecoop said. “And as first responders, we felt like maybe our job was even more significant and important after that event.”
For Fire District 9 Chief Matthew Vinci, the connection to 9/11 is personal. Vinci was working on the East Coast at the time of the attacks and attended funerals for fellow firefighters who died in the tragedy.
“I’ll never forget going across the Brooklyn Bridge, and you could see the pile from so far away, and the smell in the air,” Vinci said. “You know, it was just something out of a movie. It was just surreal.”
The ceremony also marked the completion of a significant restoration project. The Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated more than six weeks to giving the memorial at the cemetery a facelift.
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