Spirit of America ceremony honors 9/11, urges civility

CASHMERE — The 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks was observed Thursday at the Spirit of America Memorial in Cashmere, where community members, veterans, musicians, and public officials gathered to remember, honor, and educate.

The ceremony began with a welcome from Doug Jones, president of the Spirit of America Memorial Foundation, who reminded those present of the board’s mission: “Remember, honor, and educate.” He praised the board members who care for the site year-round and acknowledged John Jackson, the original founder of the memorial effort after 9/11. Jones reflected on the importance of unity. “At a time like this in our nation, when there is so much hate, it is time to remember the unity we had after the hateful attacks of 9/11,” he said.

Seattle Police Department Pipes and Drums led the crowd in patriotic music, followed by the presentation of colors and the National Anthem. Chaplain Don Ray of the North Central Chaplain Foundation offered an invocation honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, as well as the many first responders who have died since from related illnesses. “Even yet today, still 24 years after 9/11, you call us and invite us to seek refuge and find comfort in you,” Ray prayed. “Love conquers hate, and your light pierces even the deepest throes of darkness.”

The keynote address came from former Washington Governor Gary Locke, who was in office on September 11, 2001. Locke traced the timeline of that morning — from planes leaving Boston and Washington, D.C., to the moment he, preparing for meetings in Seattle, was told by his press secretary to turn on the television. He recalled watching live as the North Tower fell: “The entire nation saw the tower collapsing even before [the anchors] did.” He described visiting Ground Zero weeks later, where photos could not capture the scope of the destruction. “The destruction starts from your far left all the way to your far right,” he said.

He spoke, too, of moments that tested officials in the Pacific Northwest that day, including a Korean passenger plane mistakenly signaling a hijacking code while en route toward U.S. airspace. U.S. jets tracked the aircraft for two hours until it safely landed in Canada. From those memories, Locke pivoted to the present. He urged Americans not to let today’s political divisions erode what terrorism could not destroy. “We cannot allow all that America stands for to be dimmed from within by ourselves when those outside have failed,” he said.

“For most of the issues facing us, there is no Republican or Democratic solution,” he added. “We simply have to find a way to work for the common good and to compromise. Disagree agreeably. There is no room for political violence.” Locke closed by recalling the courage of United Flight 93 passengers who fought back against hijackers. “They sacrificed themselves for America. While the other Washington may be gridlocked politically, there is no excuse for us not rising to face and address the challenges within our own local communities.”

Murmurs of “amen” and agreement moved through the crowd, from all stripes. The people attending the ceremony were of a single heart and a single mind. The crowd joined organizers in singing “God Bless America” before the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums returned with “Amazing Grace.”

This year’s Spirit of America Award went to Rob Todd, a former American Airlines flight attendant who was originally scheduled to work aboard Flight 77 on September 11. He was reassigned at the last minute to training duties, sparing his life but leaving him with a story of deep personal loss. “Not a day goes by that I do not think of them or wonder why I was spared,” Todd told the crowd. “That moment has shaped not only my career, but the way I live my life.” He invited attendees to hear more of his story after the ceremony, ensuring that, as he put it, “the legacy of those we lost lives on through the stories I continue to tell.”

Following the event, Locke spoke with Ward Media about what he continues to carry with him through ceremonies in Washington and abroad. “The thing that strikes me about the state of Washington is how people always come together,” he said. He recalled his own work in the state legislature alongside Earl Tilly, who later became mayor of Wenatchee. “He supported a lot of the things that I was doing. It’s that ability to find common ground and to look past party labels and just focus on what is good for our communities.”

Asked what message he would give young people today about civic engagement, Locke kept it simple: “Volunteer and just do what needs to be done. A lot of the things that affect us every day have nothing to do with Washington, D.C. It really comes from your city council, your county commissioners, your school board. So if we really care about these issues, we’ve got to get involved, we’ve got to understand what’s going on, we’ve got to voice our concerns, our dreams, our aspirations, and work together and get it done.”

For those gathered in Cashmere, Locke’s presence underscored the day’s theme: Memory, unity, and responsibility, carried forward not only in remembrance but in civic life.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media