Seaside honors 9/11 victims 25 years later, reflecting on its lasting impact
SEASIDE, Calif. —
A ceremony in Seaside commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, honoring the lives lost and reflecting on the tragedy’s lasting impact on individuals and the nation.
Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges keeps the memory of 9/11 close, with photographs, patches, and an American flag bearing the names of the victims displayed in his office.
“Because it is a reminder to me to never forget,” Borges said. “And I will never forget.”
At the time of the attacks, Borges was 21 years old and attending the police academy. Initially planning to become a juvenile probation officer, the events of that day changed his career path.
“That moment, 9/11, I wish it didn’t happen, but for me, it really did shape and change the trajectory of my profession,” Borges said.
Borges traveled to New York City for the first anniversary of 9/11, standing with grieving families at Ground Zero and meeting President George W. Bush. Three months later, he was sworn in as a Seaside police officer.
“I was fortunate enough to meet a recruiter who let me go down to Ground Zero and meet the president, the first lady, Colin Powell, and Rudy Giuliani,” Borges said. “My story is unique to me, but I am sure you and others have their own stories. This affected every single human being in the United States of America.”
The ceremony in Seaside also featured remarks from former CIA Director Leon Panetta, who recalled the shock of the attacks. At the time, Panetta was in Washington, D.C., chairing an oceans commission and briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“A commissioner with me got a call from New York that a plane had gone into a trade tower. We thought it was a terrible accident,” Panetta said. “But then a few minutes later, another call came in, and we knew that a second plane had gone in, and that we were under a terrorist attack. And I remember turning to members of Congress and saying we better get out of here because the Capitol very well could be a target.”
Years later, Panetta led the CIA in locating Osama bin Laden, culminating in the 2011 raid that killed the al-Qaida leader.
“It was a very risky mission, but they did it, did it well,” Panetta said. “And we brought justice not only to Bin Laden but, I think, in many ways for the victims of 9/11. Getting Bin Laden brought closure to them as well.”
As the generation that witnessed 9/11 grows older, local leaders emphasized the importance of teaching younger generations about the events of that day and the sacrifices made.
“When you think about the firefighters who never came home, what do you want people, especially the younger generation, to remember about them?” Seaside Fire Chief Paul Blaha was asked.
“That they gave the ultimate sacrifice, they lost their lives, their family members lost a loved one, and I think it is important that they learn the history,” Blaha said.
Borges echoed the sentiment, stressing the need to ensure the memory of 9/11 endures.
“And we have a lot of young people who were not born or were very little when this happened,” Borges said. “We need to make sure we never forget what happened because this could happen again. We need to be prepared, we need to be ready.”
Twenty-five years later, the duty to remember lives on.