Tragedy, bravery of Sept. 11 recalled
By WARREN SCOTT, staff writerFOLLANSBEE - The tragic loss of lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and the brave response by the many emergency crews as well as the sacrifice of a Follansbee man during the Vietnam War will be remembered at a community memorial service Thursday.
The service will be held at 7 p.m. at the Ray Stoaks Plaza adjacent to the Follansbee City Building at 872 Main St.
Local officials, clergy and community leaders have conducted such a service each year since the terrorist attacks that led to the deaths of 2,974 people at the World Trade Center and Pentagon and aboard the four airliners used in the attacks, including the one that crashed at Shanksville, Pa.
First Judicial Circuit Court Judge James Mazzone will speak at Thursday's service, which will include prayers led by local clergy and recognition of local police, firefighters and ambulance crews, troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and Army Warrant Officer Dennis Bucklew, who was killed while serving as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War.
Also participating in the service will be the Tri-State Young Marines, who will lay a memorial wreath and raise the U.S. flag; Cub Scout Pack 57, who will lead the Pledge of Allegiance; and the Ohio Valley Veterans Memorial Squad, which will deliver a military salute.
Through the Roof, a local contemporary Christian singing group, will perform the national anthem, and Brooke High School student Mark Lewis will perform taps.
"Citizens throughout the world will long remember the tremendous impact of Sept. 11 on our nation," Mayor Tony Paesano said. "The memorial tribute provides the community an opportunity to remember, to honor and to heal along with our nation. We hope that, on that day, everyone will take the time to remember."
The occasion also will offer an opportunity to pay tribute to Bucklew, who was overlooked when two other local soldiers who were killed in the Vietnam War - Army Sgt. Joey Perito and Air Force Capt. Raymond Salzarulo - were recognized at the Follansbee Community Days Dinner earlier this year.
A 1968 graduate of Follansbee High School, Bucklew had been serving in Vietnam for seven weeks when he was killed at age 21.
A Web site for the Vietnam War Memorial attributes his death to an accident that occurred while Bucklew was on a reconnaissance mission in defense of a U.S. Army base at a time of heavy enemy activity.
Bucklew's sister Diane Bucklew-Boniey said her family was told the aircraft was shot down by the enemy, and she is working to correct such reports.
Diane said Dennis was working in a clerical position for the FBI and furthering his education with the intent of becoming an agent for the organization when he took a leave to enlist in the Army.
Diane explained their brother Robert was serving in Vietnam at the time, and "Denny didn't feel right about his brother being there while he wasn't."
Diane, who was 15 when her brother was killed, said as a teen he was very interested in cars and airplanes and acquired a pilot's license after graduating.
He also enjoyed playing the guitar and loved children and animals, she recalled.
"When he was a paperboy, he used to drag animals home and tell my mother, look what followed me home," she said.
Diane said following his death the family received condolence letters from President Nixon, Secretary of the Army Robert Froehlke and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
She expressed thanks to 4th Ward Councilwoman Iris Ferrell for her efforts in bringing recognition to Dennis.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)
