ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Monday, U.P. Health System (UPHS) Hospice and Jim’s Dari-Kreme partnered for a second year in remembrance of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
“It is a big moment where our entire history and the way of our life changed,” said UPHS Hospice account executive Rachel Camp. “It’s now the 22nd anniversary of it and we just want to give everyone a thank you.”
To do that, Jim’s Dari-Kreme gave away free ice cream in honor of veterans and first responders.
“We both like to give back to the community,” said Jim’s owner and manager Trevor Sebeck. “U.P. Health System approached us last year to see if we wanted to make this an annual event. It’s just a good way to give back to those that maybe didn’t have the thank you or didn’t have the recognition.”
The ice cream social was followed by a moment of silence and a tribute to those who lost their lives. Retired Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Landsfeld performed “Taps.”
“I was asked to play…for the nearly 3,000 souls that perished during the World Trade Center tragedy,” he said.
According to Landsfeld, 9/11 has also become a day to celebrate those who continue to serve.
“Police, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, search and rescue teams,” said Landsfeld. “Their job is on the front line every day in every community throughout the country. They have one of the toughest jobs day in and day out.”
Sebeck says 22 years later, the emphasis on remembering 9/11 sometimes seems to be waning.
“9/11 for me was a middle school year, so I was in school at the time seeing those images on TV, learning history is being made,” he said. “Even though everybody promised you won’t forget, it’s slowly starting to forget.”
Sebeck hopes events like this will ensure Escanaba truly does remember the sacrifices made that day, as well as every day after.
“We may not know everybody’s story, but just thank them for their service in whatever they do,” said Sebeck. “It’s a day of remembrance, and that’s what we need to get back to.”
