The Palmerton Girl Scouts led a 9/11 remembrance ceremony Saturday during the Palmerton Community Festival.

Although many of the Girl Scouts were not old enough to witness the events of 9/11 themselves, the fact that they led Saturday’s remembrance ceremony proved that the lives lost during the tragedy will never be forgotten.

Girl Scout and Palmerton’s Miss Poppy, Peyton Mantz, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Girl Scout Kylie Dietrich sang the national anthem.

Joseph Uhnak, a veteran of the Palmerton United Veterans Organization, recounted the events of 9/11.

He specifically talked about the passengers of Flight 93 and how they banded together to take back the plane hijacked by terrorists which later crashed into the field at Shanksville. These people sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of saving countless others.

“If it were not for those brave souls, those terrorists would have completed their mission. Those passengers sacrificed their lives so others may live.”

Following a prayer led by Uhnak, the Palmerton veterans held a three-volley salute and played taps in honor of those who lost their lives.

During the ceremony, many of the Girl Scouts read poetry in honor of those impacted by 9/11. Palmerton Girl Scout leaders read the poem “Two Thousand One, Nine Eleven” by Paul Spreadbury as well as Ashley Stetler who read “We’re Still Standing” by Hannah Schoechert.

Musical guest Beth Ritter-Guth gave a performance of “The Fallen” on the bagpipes, a song written in remembrance of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives during the attack. The song “Have You Forgotten” by Darryl Worley was also performed by the Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts on stage as well.

Throughout the ceremony, each member of the Girl Scouts recounted the events of 9/11 and signified the events that took place with the ringing of a bell and moments of silence. Toward the end, the mantra spoken by each of the Girl Scouts began with the statement “we will remember.”

“We will remember that the entire world was affected by this.”

“We will remember that citizens from 78 countries died in New York, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.”

“We will remember the world stopped that day.”

“We will remember the pride in our own country.”

Guest speaker Judge Steven R. Serfass spoke about the American heroes in the face of tragedy.

“We were united by our conviction that America is the most exceptional country blessed with the most incredible heroes and that this is a land worth defending with our very last breath. There was a unity based on love for our families, care for our neighbors, loyalty to our fellow citizens, pride in our flag, gratitude for our police and first responders, and a refusal to bend our will to the forces of violence, intimidation, oppression and evil.”

The ceremony concluded with the singing of “Amazing Grace” led by Girl Scout alumni and alumni leaders.