Friday, September 16, 2011

Wellsville Remembers 9-11


This past Sunday Wellsville observed the 10th Anniversary of 9-11. On that tragic day in 2001 Wellsville lost one of their own in the Twin Towers in New York City. The late afternoon ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Cathy Salter. Cathy was the daughter of Henry & Eleanor Salter.

The observance was held at the Boy With the Boot/Salter Memorial on Wells Avenue. It was jointly sponsored by the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce and Village officials. Mayor Joe Surace served as Master of Ceremonies. Brief remarks were made by State Senator Jason Wilson, Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling and County Commissioner Penny Traina. Salter's High School chum, Charles Franklin, represented the Salter family and described to those present the always pleasant Cathy.

United Airlines pilot, Captain John Dye, added a special touch to the anniversary ceremony. Dye is a Lisbon area resident and flies Boeing 767s for United out of Chicago. According to newspaper accounts he was heading to the Pittsburgh airport on his way to work the day the terrorist hi-jacked the 767s. Capt. Dye told us he was there to honor the pilots and flight crews that perished in those attacks.

Wellsville Nazarene Pastor Dirk Hall offered the prayers. The sound system was provided by Bob Sell of Sell's Auction. Wellsville High School Show Choir Ebony & Ivory sang a couple of musical selections under the direction of Miss Emily Barlow. Band members Miles McGinnis & Brent Drysdale wrapped up the ceremonies by playing Taps. American Legion Post 70 members and Auxiliary hosted a reception following the ceremony. Wreaths were donated by Mrs. Dorothy Shepherd from Carriage House II.

It was a very touching ceremony and the Good Lord must have been looking on. The weather was a hall of fame warm, bright sunny afternoon in the beginning. Before the end of the ceremony dark clouds rolled in with lightning flashes. Not far behind came the rain, as if the Heavens were crying remembering the events of that day 10 years ago. Believe what you want. We don't think it was a quirk of nature...



ole nib

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

IT WAS A VERY TOUCHY CEREMONY BUT MY QUESTION IS WHY DIDNT VILLAGE OFFICIALS OR WHOM EVER WAS IN CHARGE DIDNT CLEAN OR CUT THE GRASS UP AROUND BOYINTHEBOOT, IF IT WASNT FOR SOME GENTLEMAN NOT GOING UP THAT MORNING IT WOULD OF LOOKED LIKE CRAP.

************* said...

Can't answer that and there were two of our Council men very much involved with that ceremony.

We did see a Street Dept. employee spraying weed killer a couple of days before that ceremony.

Kudos to Barry Podwell for the work he did up there that Sunday morning. He's one of the good guys. We happened by and saw him working under the sweltering sun. Thanks Berry...


nib