Fifteen years later, Tamaqua is setting aside time to remember and commemorate the tragedy of 9/11.

The South Ward Playground Association sponsored Tamaqua’s 9/11 Remembrance Service.Cecilia “Jackie” Jones started the tradition on the first anniversary of the 9/11. Her daughters, Shelley Bonser and Michelle Mehallic, continue the tradition 15 years later.Tamaqua’s former Mayor Richard Hadesty served as the master of ceremonies on Sunday evening. The service opened with a brief speech in memory of Jones and a prayer from Pastor Ed Noftz from New Life Assembly of God.Michaela Noftz, Hannah Betz and Alexa Hromyak sang the national anthem while the audience remembered what happened 15 years ago. A member from the South Ward Fire Company read “The Fireman’s Prayer.”Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison spoke of the importance of remembering history.“Our children go to school every day and, in my opinion, the most important class they take is history. And that important lesson is to not allow the repeat of failures or mistakes in our lifetime,” Morrison said.Micah Gursky from the Tamaqua Borough Council put a spotlight on the emergency responders who serve their communities daily. He also focused on the importance of sharing the message that comes from events like 9/11.“The freedoms we enjoy should be enjoyed by everybody across the globe, no matter what they look like, no matter what they sound like, no matter what they believe, no matter where they live,” Gursky said.Our freedoms have come from great sacrifice from many generations of men and women.Activist Rubina Tareen has spent most of her life trying to connect Muslim communities and other religious communities. Many people are very interested and want to understand the Muslim faith.“I feel like there is so much negativity surrounding my faith these days,” said Tareen. “To God, all life is sacred and precious.”Tareen reminded the crowd that Muslims were affected by 9/11 as well. First responders, government officials and victims of 9/11 were of mixed faith.United States Air Force Maj. Joe Denning III is a hometown hero. He has served America for the last 20 years and works at the Pentagon.“Hate was behind the terrorist attack on our nation. Hate for our culture, our way of life, our freedom. … Hate is where the enemy draws its power, how it recruits, hate is where they live. You cannot defeat hate with hate,” Denning said. “If we start hating people who have not done anything against us … America is lost.”Other notable speakers from the ceremony were Jack Kulp, Sgt. 1st Class Tonia Barron, Jesse During and Donna Frye who also sang “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful.”