MAYOR'S MESSAGE We Will Never Forget Twenty-five years ago today, our nation experienced a tragedy that forever changed our country. For those of us who lived through September 11, 2001, many of us can still remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we first heard the news. Today, we remember the 2,977 lives lost that day. We also honor the firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, and ordinary citizens who demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness in the face of unimaginable circumstances. Twenty-five years is a significant passage of time. There is now a generation of Americans who were not yet born on September 11, 2001. For them, the events of that day are history rather than a shared experience. That makes it even more important that we continue to tell the stories of those we lost, those who answered the call to help, and the countless acts of kindness, compassion, and unity that followed. Here in Coos Bay, we have a special connection to that history. At Coos Bay Fire Station 1 stands a memorial that includes a piece of steel recovered from the World Trade Center. It is a lasting reminder of the lives lost that day and of the courage and sacrifice of the first responders who rushed toward danger to help others. This morning, members of Coos Bay Fire & Rescue, law enforcement, community representatives, and others will gather at Fire Station 1 for a remembrance ceremony. I am honored to be speaking at the ceremony and to join our community in remembering those we lost and recognizing the service and sacrifice of our first responders. Whether you are able to attend or simply take a quiet moment of reflection today, I hope we remember not only the tragedy of September 11, but also the courage, service, sacrifice, compassion, and sense of unity that followed. As the years continue to pass, it is our responsibility to make sure the significance of that day does not pass with them. We remember those we lost. We honor those who served. And we will never forget. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay