Goodyear community remembers 9/11

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

The Goodyear Fire Department hosted its annual 9/11 memorial pancake breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 7.

The event, held at Fire Station 183 on 3075 N. Litchfield Road, began at 8 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony. This Goodyear Fide Deartment tradition serves as a tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost during the 2001 terrorist attacks and highlights the unity that followed.

“Over the last 23 years, we’ve made significant strides in community protection." said Paul Luizzi,  Goodyear Fire Chief.

Luizzi is now hiring community members who were not alive for, or old enough to remember 9/11 first hand and said celebrations like the pancake  breakfast are  important to keep the stories alive. 

“While we lost so many on 9/11 and so much has changed theses past 23 years, I'm glad we still come togther to celebrate," Luizzi said. 

Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issitt also spoke to commemorate the day and its impact before the breakfast.

“The American spirit is not easily defeated,” Issitt said.

“Today we have  the opportunity to reflect and (to) honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and their families who experienced profound loss. Today we also say thank you to our current first responders who continue to serve and carry the mantle of those lost on 9/11,” Issitt said.

The gathering brought together community members, elected officials and residents from Goodyear and Litchfield Park to commemorate the lives lost and the heros who served on 9/11.