Thirteen years removed from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the threat of violence against the United States is very much alive.

That notion was a common theme running throughout Carbon County's Patriot Day ceremony, held this morning in Jim Thorpe's Josiah White Park."We've made progress, but evil still exists," said State Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, guest speaker.Yudichak was referring to ISIS, the militant terror group in Syria recently in the news after video surfaced of their members beheading an American journalist."ISIS is killing innocent Americans as we speak," Yudichak said. "I turn back to a quote by Gen. Colin Powell in the days after 9/11. He said that no amount of terrorists can change who we are. We are strong, we are free and we are the United States."President Barack Obama on Wednesday night unveiled a four-point plan including airstrikes and a request for $500 million from Congress to arm Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS."These are extremists with no regard for life," said Wayne Nothstein, Carbon County commissioner chairman. "We will not, and should not, let our guard down. Their acts of rape, beheading and murder need to be brought to justice. It should be our prayer that our leaders in Washington make the right decisions."While the current threat of violence was on everyone's mind, Patriot Day exists to remember the almost 3,000 men and women who died on 9/11. At 8:46 a.m., a plane hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists flew into the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Seventeen minutes later, a second hijacked plane flew into the South tower. A third plane flew into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., and a fourth plane went down in a Shanksville, Pa. field at 10:03 a.m."No amount tears will ever replace the losses our country suffered that day," said William O'Gurek, Carbon County commissioner. "This anniversary serves as a reminder that we should all be aware of the freedoms we enjoy, take nothing for granted, strive to help our fellow man and cherish our family and friends."State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-122, was in New York City on the morning of the attacks. One of the images that still strikes him is that of the firefighters, many of whom perished, hauling hoses up the steps of the World Trade Center."We need to stay vigilant," Heffley said. "There will always be a faction of Islam who hates what we stand for. We have to accept that and be vigilant."The ceremony is now in its 13th year and Carbon County Commissioner Tom Gerhard often gets asked why it is continued."With each passing year, it takes on a new meaning," he said. "We have gone another year without an attack on this country. We also do it to let our enemies know we are always on alert."Dozens of veterans, county employees and residents turned out despite an overcast morning and threatening skies.Gil Henry, chaplain for Jim Thorpe American Legion Post #304 and VFW Post #294 Penn-Kidder, gave the invocation and benediction.Angela Nardini sang the national anthem and "God Bless America".The event concluded with three-shot rifle volley and the playing of taps."This is a day for us to renew our lives as Americans," said Henry M. Desrosiers, Carbon County Veterans Affairs director. "We will always confront danger and never run away. The fight goes on."