ADAMS TWP — An American flag hung near the student section from an Adams Area Fire District 42 ladder truck Friday night as the Mars community paused to remember the lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and honor the people who answered the call to help.
The pregame observance at Mars Athletic Complex marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Students, families, veterans and first responders stood for a moment of silence before Mars and Chartiers Valley took the field.
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe poses with Mars Area School District administrators, parents and law-enforcement officers before Friday night’s football game.
Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe and a deputy participated in the ceremonial coin toss as part of the Unity Seats program, a national initiative intended to bring law enforcement officers and community members together at high school football games. The Mars game was among nearly 100 games included in the program’s commemoration of the anniversary, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
“On this 25th anniversary of the atrocious attacks on our nation and the actions of all responders and victims, it is an honor to be a part of this commemoration,” Slupe said in a statement. “The Unity program is a small step in both the recognition and healing process for all involved.”
Mars Area cheerleaders stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence before Friday night’s football game.
Through the program, law enforcement leaders and local residents share seats and a community experience, with the goal of encouraging conversation, mutual respect and stronger relationships. Slupe also met with local families and joined the evening’s recognition of first responders.
Members of Adams Area Fire District 42 attended with the ladder truck, suspending the large American flag near the student section filled with red, white and blue. One student carried the message “Thank You Vets” across his chest as classmates cheered from the stands.
Members of the Pine-Richland-Mars Air Force Junior ROTC color guard stand at attention during Friday night’s pregame ceremony marking 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The evening was also youth sports night. Young football players and cheerleaders were introduced at the stadium, connecting the remembrance ceremony with a celebration of the community’s next generation of athletes. One young cheerleader held a small American flag while waiting with her teammates along the field.
The Pine-Richland-Mars Air Force Junior ROTC color guard added to the ceremony, standing at attention on the field as the stadium observed the anniversary.
A Mars youth cheerleader holds an American flag during youth sports night at Mars Athletic Complex on Friday.
Football brought the crowd together Friday, but the moments before kickoff carried the night’s larger message: remembrance for those who were killed, gratitude for veterans and first responders, and a commitment to the sense of unity that followed Sept. 11 a quarter-century ago.
