ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anaheim leaders convened Friday to observe the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day marked by solemn remembrance for the nearly 3,000 lives lost and countless others forever altered. The gathering also served to reflect on how the attacks, thousands of miles away, significantly affected the local community.
TheThe commemorative event brought together first responders from Anaheim Fire & Rescue and the Anaheim Police Department, alongside Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and the City Council. The ceremony included remarks, the laying of wreaths, and a last alarm bell tribute, specifically honoring the firefighters, police, and other public servants who perished in the line of duty on 9/11.
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken underscored the city's connection to the events, stating that “Anaheim was touched by 9/11.” She recounted the individual losses of Anaheim Hills resident Jerrold Paskins, who was in the north tower of the World Trade Center, and Charles Burlingame, an Anaheim native who piloted Flight 77 until it was overtaken and subsequently crashed into the Pentagon. Mayor Aitken emphasized the need to recount these stories to “celebrate and find empowerment” in them, noting that they “speak to the character, heroism and spirit of our city.”
Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid spoke movingly about the youngest victim of 9/11 and her heartbreaking ties to the city. While acknowledging that Anaheim’s experience could not compare to that of others, Chief Cid highlighted “Anaheim’s unique role in the world and the responsibility that comes with it.” He noted that some 9/11 victims were families traveling to Anaheim. Two-year-old Christine Lee Hanson, for instance, was aboard Flight 175 with her parents, en route from Boston to Southern California for a family visit and her first trip to Disneyland. Christine was identified as the youngest of eight children lost on September 11. Chief Cid affirmed the community's honor for Christine and her family’s memory, alongside many others whose lives were taken too soon.
Anaheim Fire & Rescue Chief Pat Russell shared his personal recollection of being on duty on September 11, 2001, and in the days and weeks that followed. Chief Russell, who was a fire captain at Station 3 in 2001, the very location of the 25th remembrance ceremony, shared that “For me, today is also personal.” He recalled California Task Force 5, an urban search and rescue team composed of Anaheim and neighboring firefighters, assembling at Joint Forces Training Base-Los Alamitos, prepared to deploy to ground zero. However, their transport ultimately never departed due to a two-day halt on all non-national security air traffic. Chief Russell noted the striking silence in the skies during that period, broken only by military aircraft patrols.
Locally, the day brought significant disruptions. Disneyland remained closed on 9/11, with visitors sheltering in place at hotels. Baseball games at Angel Stadium of Anaheim and other venues were paused for a week. The Honda Center shifted its purpose, hosting blood drives rather than sports and concerts. Despite the halt in much of everyday life, Chief Russell observed that first responders continued to answer calls, albeit with “a new uncertainty,” and the lingering question of “What are we going to?”
The attacks also led to an inevitable downturn in travel, contributing to the national recession of the early 2000s. Anaheim, which now welcomes more than 26 million visitors annually, experienced a 3% drop in visitor revenue, alongside a 20% decline in national air travel.
Chief Russell concluded by emphasizing that the response and resilience demonstrated after the 9/11 attacks continue to inspire today’s first responders. He stated that the greatest way to honor those who came before them was through contemporary service, affirming that this spirit remains alive in the men and women of Anaheim Fire & Rescue. Mayor Aitken echoed this sentiment, suggesting that a powerful way to honor the day is through simple acts of kindness, such as hugging family or calling loved ones, reflecting the millions of such acts that occurred after 9/11 and remain impactful today.
