Twelve Years Later: Indianapolis Remembers 9/11

A tattered American flag draped over an Indianapolis Fire truck across from the 9/11 Memorial, downtown, Wednesday afternoon.

Dyer, Indiana resident Don Bacso says the image serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made and the unity shown after the planes crashed in to the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, and in a Pennsylvania farm field.

"I see it in more communities everyday, people want to remember this," he said. "People want to remember this because we were innocent citizens that day. We were just going to work.  We were doing our job and we were blindsided."

Bacso was working on the 57th floor of the North Tower when it was hit.

He says events such as the ones in Indianapolis highlight the nation’s unity, then and now.

"We all have pride.  We all have pride in our country," he said.  "I can see it especially in our civil servants that protect us."

Ashely Bennett is one of the civil servants. 

The Greenwood resident brought her four-year-old daughter and nephew to the anniversary ceremony and says 9/11 inspired her to be a firefighter.

"They are kind of like the unsung heroes," she said of first responders.  "It changed fire service forever.  Everybody started noticing them more and more of what we do and just how much of a sacrifice we are willing to give for the people we serve."

Jim Haarbauer of Avon is a veteran who served in Vietnam.  He views the 12-year anniversary as a time to reflect on what is sacrificed for freedom.

"I think it’s all about the country’s ability to defend itself," he said.  "I think we are here to honor the people who weren’t able to do that and never forget.

Boscoe’s two sons joined him at the event.  They are too young to remember the 2001 attacks. But, he hopes ceremonies such as as the one downtown educate younger generations about how the events 12 years ago shaped the world.

"It effected Indianapolis.  It effected all the great cities," he said of the attacks. "It effected all aspects of the country and you can see that here in Indianapolis today."