Community Gathers to Remember and Reflect at Prince William County’s 9/11 Ceremony

Prince William Police Detective Darien Cupka echoed the 9/11 motto of “Never Forget” when he spoke at the county’s 2025 September 11 Remembrance Ceremony at Freedom Park near the McCoart Government Center.  

Cupka, who was serving as a police officer with the Arlington County Police Department on Sept. 11, 2001, was scheduled to be in court that day, but excused himself when he heard on the radio that a plane had hit the Pentagon minutes after two passenger planes flew into the two World Trade Center towers in New York City. 

Cupka joined several other police officers at the Arlington County Police Station and from there they left for the Pentagon. Cupka said the sight of a plume of smoke coming from the Pentagon remains seared in his memory. 

“I will never forget the chaos, the fear, the anger,” Cupka said. “The smells, the cries, trying to shepherd victims from the Pentagon to a triage point on Washington Boulevard.”   

He said he would “never forget” standing in water and jet fuel inside the Pentagon, shining a light and calling down dark corridors searching for survivors, hoping that no one was left behind. 

Cupka recalled the patriotism he felt seeing an unfurled flag hanging on the facade of the burned and scarred Pentagon. 

“I will never forget the moment our flag was draped over the side of the Pentagon,” he said. “A renewed sense of spirit and pride rushed through me and the crowd of first responders and military personnel still working. I have recited our pledge thousands of times, but never had I felt such a sense of allegiance and quest for justice for all.”  

Cupka also mentioned the bravery of the passengers of Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa., when passengers overpowered the terrorists who had hijacked a third airplane and were headed toward the U.S. Capitol Building.  

“If I haven’t overstated it, I’ll never forget,” Cupka concluded. “I ask that each of you never forget, as well.” 

Prince William County Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson spoke of the county’s 22 fallen residents who died at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.  

“For two dozen years now, we have missed our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers and our family members whose lives were cut short on 9/11. Even though we have moved on as best we can, the pain is still there and always will be,” Jefferson said. “But, while the pain and sadness never truly go away, we do what we can to remember them. To tell their stories… We also honor and remember the first responders who went above and beyond, sacrificing their health – and even their lives – to help out that day and in the days, weeks, and months that followed. They’re all heroes, and we owe them our thanks.”

The “Tolling of the Bell” is a custom that has its origins in a time before radio and telephones, when fire departments communicated with telegraph. When a firefighter died in the line of duty, the fire alarm office would send out a special signal of five measured dashes followed by a pause, five more measured dashes, another pause, and then five final dashes.  

”This became known as the Tolling of the Bell and was broadcast over all telegraph fire alarm circuits,” Jefferson said. “This signal was a sign of honor and respect for all the firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and it has become a time-honored tradition.”  

Prince William Retired Lt. Jeff Howdyshell rang the bell for the 22 county residents who died on 9/11.  

The names of those who perished that day are inscribed on the side of the county’s Liberty Memorial Fountain. They include:  

• Sergeant First Class John J. Chada, U.S. Army, Retired,    
• Storekeeper Third Class Jamie L. Fallon, U.S. Navy,    
• Amelia V. Fields,    
• Lt. Col. Robert J. Hymel, U.S. Air Force, Retired,    
• Sergeant Major Lacey B. Ivory, U.S. Army,    
• Judith L. Jones,    
• David W. Laychak,    
• James T. Lynch, Jr.,  
• Gene E. Maloy,    
• Robert J. Maxwell,    
• Molly L. McKenzie,    
• Craig J. Miller,    
• Diana B. Padro,    
• Rhonda S. Rasmussen,    
• Edward V. Rowenhorst,    
• Judy Rowlett,    
• Donald D. Simmons,   
• Jeff L. Simpson,    
• Cheryle D. Sincock,    
• Chief Information Systems Technician Gregg H. Smallwood, U.S. Navy,    
• Sergeant Major Larry L. Strickland, U.S. Army, and    
• Sandra L. White   

In all, 2,977 people died on 9/11.  

Prince William County Executive Chris Shorter spoke of his memories of Sept. 11, 2001, and the courage, shock, grief and uncertainty that followed.  

“I also remember what came after – the extraordinary bravery, the unity, the choice of service over self. It [was] in those moments that our nation revealed its true strength that told the world we would not be broken,” Shorter said 

Shorter reminded the crowd to carry the memory of those who perished on 9/11. He urged people to remember the first responders with their courage and conviction, but said remembering alone is not enough. 

“The question we face is, ‘What do we do with that memory today?’” Shorter said. “September 11 calls us to be people of compassion and integrity, to show up for one another and to lift each other up in times of hardship and in times of peace,” Shorter said.  

The Prince William County Joint Honor Guard presented the colors at the beginning of the ceremony. Prince William County Police Officer Celine Wykowski sang the National Anthem and “God Bless America” during the event. Prince William County Pipes and Drums also played bagpipes at the ceremony. Bugler Donna Flory played “Taps” to conclude the event.   

Watch the full 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony video.