Sirens, songs and speeches: Morris Plains turns 21 since 9/11

With sirens, songs and speeches, Morris Plains on Monday celebrated the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.

Students at Morris Plains Borough School, 9/11 commemoration, September 12, 2022. Photo by Dave Sullivan

The sirens sounded six times between 8:46 a.m. and 10:28 a.m., marking the impact of hijacked airliners on the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon; the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, of a plane in which passengers fought the terrorists; and the collapse of every tower.

The schoolchildren of the borough sang america the beautiful and God bless America.

Reverend Danielle Baker of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church delivers a blessing during the 9/11 commemoration in Morris Plains, September 12, 2022. Photo by Dave Sullivan

And volunteer firefighter Greg Manninga retired member of the New York Fire Department’s Special Operations Unit, shared his memories of that infamous day, in front of a large crowd gathered under a charred Trade Center beam.

“We will never forget,” proclaims a sign at the borough’s 9/11 Memorial Park at the intersection of Routes 53 and 202.

Photo slideshow by David Sullivan. Click/hover over images for captions:

Flowers for a victim of the terrorist attack. 9/11 Remembrance in Morris Plains, September 12, 2022. Photo by Dave Sullivan

Morris Plains lost Eileen Marsha Greenstein, 52, September 11. She worked in claims at Aon at the World Trade Center; she was among nine Grand Morristown Morris County residents and 64 killed in the attacks.

Borough Police and Fire, Morris Minute Men and Watnong VFW Post 3401 veterans participated in raising the flags at half mast on Monday.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Dist.) with retired New York City Firefighter Greg Manning and Mayor Jason Karr, 9/11 commemoration in Morris Plains, Sept. 12, 2022. Photo by Dave Sullivan

The dignitaries included the representative. Mikie Sherrill (D-11th Arr.) and the members of the borough council. Mayor Jason Karr gave Manning an honorary key to Morris Plains.

An invocation was pronounced by the chaplain VFW Plummer Williams; the Rev. Danielle Boulanger of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church gave a blessing.

Elementary students Stephanie Diamond, Benjamin Ross and addison emge recited poems.

Morris County too held a serviceSunday night at the 9/11 Memorial on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills.