Elyria — They came to Ely Square in Elyria waving flags and many of them actually wearing their pledge to "Never Forget," right there on their shirts.
Here, Tuesday, September 11, 2018, was about honoring first responders among us and to say thank you for all those who rushed in and lost their lives when the towers tumbled to terrorism in 2011.
For 91-year-old William McKenna of Elyria, coming to Ely Square came down to 2 words:
Honor. Respect.
The Korean War veteran has a particularly poignant take on the pain he felt that day, when terrorism took so much right here on American soil.
"I know how it feels to see people slaughtered and blown up," said McKenna.
Luminaries, individually inscribed, stood and burned for lives lost.
Jeffery Currie lit one for Asia Cotton.
"She's a friend that I went to school with. Her daughter was killed on the plane in D.C, so I came down to represent for her," Currie said.
Tuesday was also about the war on terrorism that only began on September 11, 2011. It was about those who still serve.
About those who are still fighting, and even about all of those like William McKenna, who fought before.
It's just like he said: It's about honor and respect.