A profound sense of sorrow and solemn remembrance echoed through the borough of Mohnton as community members gathered to commemorate the lives lost during the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Marking a quarter-century since the national tragedy, the local observance served as both a tribute to the fallen and a platform for historical preservation, anchored by personal testimony from those who answered the call of duty during the crisis.
Standing beside the Sept. 11 memorial located outside the Berks Military History Museum and Holocaust Museum and Education Center, state Rep. Mark Gillen reflected on the sequence of emotions that gripped the nation on that fateful morning. Gillen, who established the Mohnton cultural and educational facility in 2014, noted that the initial confusion surrounding the first plane impact quickly gave way to widespread shock and horror once the second aircraft struck the World Trade Center, making it undeniably clear that the United States was under a coordinated attack.
At the time, the overwhelming scale of the disaster induced a state of near paralysis across the country. Yet Gillen felt an urgent, personal obligation to act rather than remain a passive observer. Possessing a diverse background that encompassed training as an emergency medical technician, interior firefighting experience, and professional service in both university policing and corrections, he was uniquely positioned to offer tangible assistance at the disaster site.
Determined to contribute to the unfolding emergency response, Gillen borrowed essential turnout gear from a fellow firefighter based in Mohnton. Equipping himself with the borrowed gear, he stepped into his vehicle and began driving toward New York City, despite having little certainty about what conditions he would encounter upon arrival.
As he traveled along Interstate 78, the magnitude of the emergency became increasingly visible through official highway electronic messaging. Flashing signs explicitly alerted motorists that New York was closed, illustrating the unprecedented shutdown of the metropolitan region. Nevertheless, Gillen managed to navigate through various police checkpoints by presenting his emergency credentials, steadily pressing forward until he arrived in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The scene along the waterfront presented a landscape of uncertainty, with emergency authorities operating without an established playbook for an incident of such catastrophic proportions. Amid steady maritime traffic on the Hudson River, Gillen secured passage across the water aboard a harbor tugboat, which transported him directly into lower Manhattan.
Upon reaching the disaster zone, Gillen integrated with the staging emergency personnel. He was assigned to support a canine handler during the critical initial phase of search and rescue operations, conducting search efforts throughout the night of Sept. 11 and extending into the daylight hours of Sept. 12.
The physical reality on the ground presented an environment of complete devastation that surpassed what broadcast imagery could capture. Gillen witnessed the immense destruction inflicted on emergency infrastructure, including crushed ambulances, shattered rescue apparatus, and a flipped fire truck resting atop a victim. Search teams were soon confronted with the grim task of identifying and flagging human remains amid the wreckage.
Throughout the grueling operation, the staggering loss among emergency personnel was acutely felt, particularly the sacrifice of the 343 firefighters who perished while running toward danger. Gillen observed surviving firefighters tirelessly digging through deep layers of mangled structural steel, pulverized building materials, and office furnishings in an almost impossible effort to locate badges, equipment, or traces of their fallen comrades.
The indelible impressions left by those rescue efforts later motivated Gillen to ensure that the Global War on Terror was permanently represented within the museum he established in Mohnton. Housed inside the historic 1873 Cyrus D. Hornberger Wagon Works building on Main Street, the institution serves as a repository for historical military artifacts and educational outreach.
In 2016, following a rigorous application process that spanned a full year, Gillen successfully acquired a 600-pound steel rail recovered from the Port Authority train station situated beneath the Twin Towers. The structural rail, severely distorted by the crushing weight and forces of the building collapses, was transported to Berks County through the assistance of Trans Logistics, a freight company based in Birdsboro.
During the retrieval of the rail, Gillen was also offered an authentic sign from World Trade Center Five that was slated for disposal as an artifact storage warehouse prepared to close its operations. Given the immediate opportunity to preserve another tangible piece of history without duplicating months of procedural hurdles, the sign was secured and transported to Pennsylvania, where it is currently kept in offsite storage pending future installation at the museum.
Reflecting on the societal evolution in the decades following the attacks, Gillen recalled the immediate surge of patriotism, public prayer, and unity that once swept through local communities, noting that American flags were briefly impossible to purchase across Berks County due to overwhelming demand. That collective solidarity was driven by a shared realization that every corner of the nation was vulnerable.
Looking toward the future, Gillen expressed concern regarding the contemporary domestic political climate, warning that internal divisions risk distracting the public from substantial international challenges. He cautioned that viewing fellow citizens as adversaries undermines the unity required to navigate complex global realities.
To ensure that the sacrifices of that day remain permanently etched in the community's consciousness, the museum continues its tradition of holding an annual outdoor remembrance service. Held each year at the Mohnton Sept. 11 memorial, the ceremony commences precisely at 8:46 a.m., marking the exact moment the first hijacked airliner struck the North Tower.
(0)