Ceremonies held across Georgia to remember the attacks of 9/11

Caption

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum gave remarks at Christ the King Cathedral to remember the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Credit: Christ The King Cathedral

Ceremonies across Georgia on Monday remembered the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

Gov. Brian Kemp spoke at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville.

At Atlanta's Christ the King Cathedral, the city's police chief, Darin Schierbaum, recalled what happened after the attacks.

"On September the 12th, there was not Democrat and Republican," he said. "On September the 12th, there was not Protestant or Catholic. On September the 12, we had Christian congregations protecting Muslim mosques in our city so they could not be attacked. There was unity."

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also gave remarks at the mass thanking law enforcement and firefighters in Atlanta.

"Every day the brave public servants from Atlanta Fire rescue and Atlanta Police Department show up as well," Dickens said. "They show up never knowing exactly what they may face that day. What they do know is that they have to put their lives in jeopardy and the safety of complete strangers ahead of their own safety."

In Johns Creek, north of Atlanta, retired New York police officer Kenneth Marchello told a crowd of his haunting memories of Ground Zero.  

One of his mantras is "Never forget" and he wants children to continue learning about that day for their safety. 

"It’s a life lesson," Marchello said. "God forbid there’s an active shooter or something. You might only get one chance in a hallway to hear some cop or fireman tell you go left, go right, and if you’re not paying attention, you might not hear that direction from a first responder that could save your life."

Georgia's Nashville and Marietta were among cities displaying nearly 3,000 American flags, one for each person killed.