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First Posted: 9/7/2014 WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Hoarse with laryngitis, Melanie Templeton nevertheless trekked out to Public Square Sunday afternoon to stand among those who can&#8217;t forget the tragedy that befell this country on Sept. 11, 2001.
&#8220;I just think we have such a great nation,&#8221; Templeton of Wilkes-Barre, whispered before writing down a few more words for a reporter.
&#8220;I always pray for unity and I am thankful to gather as a people to express that,&#8221; she wrote.
Nearly 100 people filled the square to sing, pray and hear words of comfort and equality at what was billed as the first &#8220;Day of Remembrance&#8221; to remember those who died in the worst terrorist attack on American soil 13 years ago this Thursday.
&#8220;I said to some pastors, we should put a program together,&#8221; said organizer Stephen L. Perillo of Making a Difference Ministries. &#8220;It&#8217;s very important people remember 9/11.&#8221;
He said a group of about 20 clergy and others put together the program.
&#8220;We will make this an annual event,&#8221; Perillo said.
The Rev. Bob Zanicky, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barre, and a part-time teacher in Misericordia University&#8217;s Religious Studies Department, stated the purpose of the program simply in his opening remarks.
&#8220;We gather to remember those who were murdered 13 years ago by terrorists &#8230; and to show our appreciation for those first responders.&#8221;
&#8220;We as Americans must know our history,&#8221; Zanicky told the crowd, citing the importance of religion in that history.
Symbols of patriotism and religion weaved their way through the program.
There were the presentation of the colors and a rifle salute by the AMVETS Honor Guard, readings from the Hebrew Scriptures, New Testament, Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, as well as prayers and the playing of taps.
The Shavertown United Methodist Church chorus, under the direction of Deborah Kelleher, sang &#8220;My Country &#8216;Tis of Thee&#8221; (&#8220;America&#8221;), &#8220;Let There Be Peace on Earth&#8221; and &#8220;America, the Beautiful.&#8221; Pastor Adam McGahee and members of Moving River Ministries, Wilkes-Barre, took turns reciting lines from &#8220;God Bless America&#8221; from various points in the crowd.
National singing artist Scott Michael Bennett of Fresh Day Music from Stevensville, Michigan, who sang at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack, sang, &#8220;The Battle Hymn of the Republic.&#8221;
The program ended with the crowd singing, &#8220;God Bless America,&#8221; led by Gene Kelleher, soloist from the Shavertown United Methodist Church.
Jeff Shimp of Kingston said his son, John, 12, was one of the buglers, along with Mike Truszkowski of the AMVETS Honor Guard, who played taps.
&#8220;When he was asked to do it, he was all for it,&#8221; Jeff Shimp said.
His son, he said, learned about the 9/11 attacks in history class.
&#8220;My wife was pregnant with him when the towers fell.&#8221;

Remembering 9/11