Remembering 9/11 with San Angelo's NYFD First Responder 17 Years Later

SAN ANGELO, TX -- San Angelo Firefighters, Police Officers and citizens joined military members from Goodfellow Air Force Base Tuesday morning at the 9/11 memorial by the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts on the Concho River Tuesday morning to commemorate the events of 9/11/2001 17 years later. 

In a fitting tribute, firefighters were called away to a structure fire at City Hall just as the ceremony was beginning.  Mayor Brenda Gunter in her remarks said it was an eerie reminder that first responders 17 years ago were called to service as well. 

You can hear the sirens in the video of posting the colors below.  

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The ceremony included remarks from Col. Ricky Mills, Commander of the 17th Training Wing of Goodfellow AFB.  

The San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau provided the mini-flag display.  

Col. Mills gave the keynote speech.  He described how members of the military currently stationed at Goodfellow remembered where they were on 9/11.  

Rosey Velez presented SAPD Chief Frank Carter and San Angelo Fire Chief Brian Dunn with 9/11 commemorative swords.  

Velez is suffering from '9/11 cancer' according to his daughter Mira Velez.  Mira read a letter Rosey had written for the ceremony in which he said he knew that breathing the toxins at ground zero during the events of 9/11 and the aftermath would cause health problems.  Mira told the audience that Velez is now on hospice.  

Sariah Noworatzky sang the National Anthem and 'God Bless America."

SAFD Chaplain Jay Teague offered the opening prayer, Mayor Gunter gave opening welcome remarks, and Mason Matthews was the announcer.