Jack Kulp, a U.S. Army veteran from the Vietnam era, wonders if the memories of the death, destruction and pain created with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are beginning to fade.

“We vowed never to forget,” he said. “But have we?”

Kulp, of Tamaqua, was one of several speakers at a Patriot Day program Wednesday night at the Southward Playground in Tamaqua. The program was a memorial program for the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and at Shanksville.

Dozens of people attended, including about 15 members of the Tamaqua Fire Department who brought several pieces of apparatus.

Kulp said, “Domestic issues ... have our attention, and for good reason. But I fear Sept.11th is fading in our memories, now relegated to a single paragraph in newspaper stories and occasional references on television.”

He said that although many Americans have seemingly dismissed the horrific incidents on 9/11, “America’s military is tracking down terrorists and securing liberty at home and abroad.”

The outdoor program was arranged by Shelly Troxell and her sister and brother-in-law, Michele and Lee Palkins.

The program was held amid a backdrop of red, white and blue curtains during which stood a large, mounted American flag. The decor included a huge banner which read: “9/11 Patriots Day. Never forget.” Under the banner was a 3-foot sign with light bulbs spelling “remember.”

Troxell said this is the 23rd consecutive 9/11 service at the Southward Playground. Troxell’s mother, Jackie Jones, aka Nan Jones, was moved so much by the news of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 that the next day she made patriotic pins, plus “made sure flags were flying everywhere.”

Jones put together the first 9/11 program at the playground in 2002 and continued to organize them until her death nine years ago. Then her children continued the annual event.

District Judge Stephen Bayer recited some staggering figures from 9/11. He said the death toll that day included 343 firefighters and medics, 60 police officers, 1,402 people in World Trade Center Tower 1 and 614 people in Tower 2. A total of 128 companies in the World Trade Centers were affected. One company lost 658 employees.

He said there are 105 victims of the attack in New York who are still missing.

A total of 3,051 children lost their parents that day.

Ninety-eight pieces of fire apparatus were destroyed.

Bayer told the gathering that the mayhem that occurred in just 1 1/2 hours cost our country about $11 trillion.

Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph Groody said, “What a difference a day makes.”

He said Sept. 11, 2001, was a Tuesday. On Monday people were sending email jokes, on Tuesday, they were solemnly discussing the horrors that had happened.

On Monday “we thought we were secure,” he said, but on Tuesday things were much different.

“On Monday our thoughts were of athletics, but on Tuesday, we remembered who our real heroes are,” he said.

Jael Houser, office case manager for the Salvation Army, said the Salvation Army was the first relief agency to reach Ground Zero. She said the Salvation Army provided three million meals and provided an accumulative one million hours of service.

Micah Gursky of Tamaqua has been a participant in every Southward Playground 9/11 service since they began.

He said, “Almost every community had a memorial service the year after 9/11/2001. Very few have them today.”

“I would bet people there are people in this crowd who don’t know someone killed in 9/11, but you’re still here,” he said.

He praised the dedication of first responders and said of the firefighters in attendance that if the alarm would sound now, they would immediately answer the call.”

Regarding the show of patriotism and the dedication of first responders “makes me really proud to be from Tamauqa,” he said. “It makes me proud to be an American.”

Vocalist Rodney Clouser sang the Lee Greenwood song, “God Bless the U.S.A.”

The opening prayer was by Lisa Shiko. Kailee Warner recited “Firemen’s Prayer.”

Six original songs written by Tom Applegate regarding 9/11 were played.

The master of ceremonies was Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace.

Members of the Tamaqua American Legion Post 173 closed the program with a gun salute.