9/11 experiences remembered at Austintown memorial

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – For years, observing the solemn anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States has become a tradition in Austintown.

September 11 is a day David David Dreznick can’t forget. He and his daughter Sheryl were living and working in New York City 23 years ago when terrorists attacked.

“It was just a horrible, horrible experience,” Dreznick said. “Someone I worked with told me that a plane had gone through the Trade Center. And sooner did she finish telling me that a plane had gone through the Trade Center, that other plane went through.”

Dreznick and his daughter now live in the Valley. He learned of the annual 9/11 memorial service in Austintown and wanted to attend.

Choirs from Fitch and Springfield high schools performed for the crowd as wreaths were laid to honor the police officers and firefighters who died trying to save others that day.

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti was working as an aide to then-Congressman Jim Traficant on 9/11.

“It’s unfortunately that our lives are marked by various events in history — some good some bad. This was a tragedy,” Traficanti said.

JR Blakeman was working as Washingtonville’s police chief at the time and got the call to turn on a TV as planes were hitting the World Trade Center.

“We knew at that time this was a terrorist attack. We felt safe on our own soil until that very day,” Blakeman said.

As an honor guard fired a salute and “Taps” were played, organizers announced they recently received a $50,000 grant from the state to build a museum on the site in Austintown to house some of the items collected from New York, Washington and Shanksville so others can learn about the sacrifices heroes made.

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