Remembrance, togetherness urged on 9/11 anniversary

BRUNSWICK — Surrounded by state representatives, members of Brunswick's police and fire departments and dozens of community members, Dakota Sawyer stood at the podium of St. Ambrose Church on Friday and made a common, yet powerful plea that the events, lives lost and heroes of September 11, 2001, never should be forgotten. At just 16 years old, Dakota is the chairman of the 12-person Brunswick 9/11 Never Forget Committee, which formed about two months ago when Dakota and his family moved to Brunswick. Though Dakota, in his own words, was "not even an idea" when the world was forever changed 19 years ago, the now-junior at Brunswick High School became impassioned about keeping the memory of that day alive while in the third grade. "After third grade, it stuck with me then that we stopped remembering 9/11 in school," Dakota said. "When I got into high school, it clicked with me that I could do a memorial service. I started my sophomore year (in Milan, Ohio) and I thought, 'We need to do this every year.'" Joining Dakota and St. Ambrose Pastor Fr. Bob Stec in speaking at the event were state Reps. Steve Hambley, R-Brunswick, and Darrell Kick, R-Loudenville, Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Montville Township and Brunswick fire Chief Josh Erskine. Brunswick police Chief Brian Ohlin and Medina County Sheriff Tom Miller were originally slated to speak but were unable to due to their attendance at the memorial service of Cleveland police officer James Skernivitz, who was shot and killed Sept. 3. Coming together The message from all who spoke was a similar one. They urged all people to strive for the sense of unity and togetherness that came Sept. 12, 2001. "It is my hope and prayer that, as we remember this year after year, we do not forget that we are human beings, we should treat others like human beings and we should be there for one another, just as those did who were willing to save others that they did not know who they were," Kick said. "We can at least be civil, respectful and loving to those we do know and see." Desert Storm and Afghan war veteran Nick Getzinger put it simply, quoting the historic motto, "United we stand, divided we fall." "We're here to remember the first responders that we lost, our citizens that we lost and our soldiers that we lost," Getzinger said. "What we can't lose and can't forget is that we're all Americans...Political parties will do what political parties do but we're one nation under God. I'm just here to say that we're all Americans. No matter what … we've all been blessed with the greatest country on earth." After the event, Stec said having a person as young as Dakota, along with representatives from the state, county and city share their thoughts and perspectives about 9/11 is crucial in working toward unity and keeping alive the memory of those lost that day. "It was so good for us to all connect and renew our commitment and live in a peaceful world and build a peaceful world," Stec said. "All the messages of moving forward, the world is only going to get better when we work together to make it better. The face that we can all come together, I think we took a step forward to building a better world." Hambley said it is everyone's duty to find ways to live the way those first responders did. "We look at that past and remember one of the worst days in American history but we also recall that, at the same time, we saw some of the greatest acts in American history," Hambley said. "We now have the opportunity, the freedom and the moral responsibility to look to the future. We should always honor the heroes of 9/11. The words that come to my mind are duty, honor and the love of others above self. Those are the things that can shape our future." While Dakota was pleased with how the event turned out, his goal of ensuring the people of Brunswick remember 9/11 everyday is just beginning. Near the end of his closing remarks, he mentioned how the committee is working toward getting a 9/11 remembrance memorial placed somewhere in the city. Those plans are still in their infancy but Dakota is confident it will come to fruition. "We're looking to get with the Brunswick City Council to, possibly, get some public land to put it on," Dakota said. "I know Medina has a 9/11 memorial (and) we're still picking out locations and trying to get a presentation up to council." Instruments of peace A regular St. Ambrose event Sept. 11 was once again held outside the church Friday night as a brass quintet played uplifting music and Stec offered the peace prayer of Saint Francis and read scripture. In the past, the event was known as the "Concert for Peace," while, this year, it is called "Instruments of Peace." Stec said he wanted to channel the words of Saint Francis when he said to make him "an instrument of (God's) peace." "The hope of tonight and even praying that prayer over again as we have been, is that each of us realize that God has outline a recipe for a better world for all of us," Stec said. "Each of us have that responsibility. Tonight is about using music to stir our souls, help us remember (and) to bring us peace so that we can be an instrument of peace in that world." Contact reporter Jack Kopanski at (330) 721-4063 or jkopanski@medina-gazette.com.