Image Credit: Sameep Singh Gumtala
Beavercreek, Ohio) - Sikh Americans from Beavercreek, Dayton, and nearby cities joined hundreds of community members at the Beavercreek 9/11 Memorial. The event, organized by the City’s Police and Fire Departments, marked the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
It honored victims from the World Trade Center (WTC), the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93.
Beavercreek Mayor Bob Stone delivered a moving speech, urging the community to never forget the victims and the bravery of first responders.
A flyover of four planes, along with the lowering of the flag and the playing of taps, solemnly honored the lives lost on that tragic day.
Sameep Singh Gumtala, from the Sikh Society of Dayton, expressed the community’s commitment to honoring the 9/11 victims. He emphasized the importance of standing together, regardless of background, to remember the firefighters, police officers, and paramedics who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Other prominent Sikh community members present included Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala, Avtar Singh from Springfield, and Dr. Darshan Singh Sehbi.
The Sikh community also paid tribute to Balbir Singh Sodhi, the first post-9/11 hate crime victim, who was fatally shot in Arizona just days after the attacks.
His death highlighted the rise of hate crimes against Sikhs, Muslims, and South Asians in the aftermath of 9/11.
A centerpiece of the Beavercreek memorial is a 25-foot steel beam from the North Tower, brought to Ohio by firefighters from Ohio Task Force One who participated in the rescue operations at Ground Zero.
Memorials across the U.S. showcase similar artifacts, providing a space for people to reflect and pay their respects.