CIRCLEVILLE -“Hey we got to do something to commemorate the 9/11 events,” said Pete Hardinger, Ned Young, and the Soldiers Monumental Association. That was in 2001 after the horrific attacks of 9/11 happened. “We ought to have a plaque honoring our safety and military forces on the firehouse here in Circleville,” said The Association to Former County Commissioner John Stevens.”
“I think we should make it more visible than that, lets put it on the front of the County Courthouse,” replied Stevens.
Multiple groups saw the importance of this and joined in to help. The City of Circleville, Pickaway County Commissioners, Amvets Post #2256, American Legion Post #134, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3331, Disabled American Veterans #70, Marine Corps League Detachment, and The Soldiers Monumental Association of Pickaway County, began work to create a special plaque for the event. The effort was made to create a plaque and commemorate, before the anniversary of the tragic event.
On September 11, 2002 “Hundreds of people gathered in front of the courthouse for a 30-minute service that paid tribute to the men and women devote their lives to serving and protecting our nation, ” According to an article in the Circleville Herald.
According to Soldiers Monumental Association, “there are very few commemorative plaques dedicated to this across the nation, we should be very proud we have it and proud of where it hangs.”
This plaque located to the left of the main entrance of the Pickaway county courthouse located at 207 South Court Street in Circleville. The plate depicts the New York city skyline before the fall of the towers with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground and inscribed in the text below.
“To Honor the Memory of our Safety Forces who have devoted their lives to the communities of our great nation and who protect the citizens of Circleville and Pickaway County on this first anniversary of September 11, 2001.”
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” —former President George W. Bush
