Twenty-one years.

It has been 21 years since that fateful day when America was rocked by terrorism as numerous people hijacked jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

On Sunday, Carbon County residents, emergency responders, and various officials gathered to remember those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

The ceremony was held during the dedication of the new Carbon County Emergency Operation Training Center.

The event began with the presentation of colors by the Allentown Police Department Honor Guard.

Guest speaker Timothy Kromer, Palmerton police chief and an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, then spoke about the events and how they shaped his career and this country.

Kromer served 21 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, retiring as Sergeant First Class. During his time in the military, he was deployed to Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2007, as well as Kuwait in 2012. He has also served at the Palmerton police department since 2002 and was named chief in January.

“Sept. 11 changed life in America as we know it,” he said. “It certainly changed mine.”

On that day in 2001, Kromer remembers picking up his infant son for a doctor’s appointment in Pottsville.

“When I picked him up, the first plane had already struck the World Trade Center. At that point, no one was sure if it was an accident or planned attack,” he said. “By the time I had gotten to the doctor’s office, the second plane had struck the towers and it had become a grim reality that this was no accident.”

After returning home from the doctor’s with his son, Kromer went to the National Guard Armory in Hometown and prepared for what would come next.

Over the next 10 years, Kromer was deployed several times and eventually round out his 20 years of service, retiring in 2018.

“As police officers, our jobs are dangerous and unpredictable on a daily basis, but no one could have ever imagined in their worst nightmares what New York City’s finest would face on Sept. 11,” he said. “As a standard in our profession, those men and women ran toward danger, not away from it.”

As a result, dozens of police officers as well as hundreds of firefighters and emergency personnel died that fateful day.

“That remains the largest loss of life for all three professions to this day,” Kromer said. “ ... We must never forget their sacrifices and dedication.”

There were several other speakers, including state Rep. Doyle Heffley, state Sen. John Yudichak and District Attorney Michael Greek.

A wreath was laid by Carbon County Sheriff Dan Zeigler and Bruce Wolfe, past fire chief of Franklin Township Fire Company.

Lansford Fire Chief Joseph Greco then completed the Tolling of the Bell, a sign of honor and respect for all firefighters who had made the ultimate sacrifice; followed by a Sept. 11 memorial tribute on bagpipes by Beth Ritter-Guth.

A last call was also toned out by the communications center, remembering those who gave their all to save many during the attacks.

The event concluded with a gun salute by the United Veterans Organization, taps by Jim Thorpe Deputy Fire Chief Bill Diehm and “God Bless America” by Angela Nardini.