Twenty-five years ago, Paul Block was a newly ordained pastor riding the subway from the Bronx to Manhattan to attend an interfaith meeting as terrorists flew the first plane into the World Trade Center.
Like everyone else, he was stunned and shocked by the sight of ash-covered people fleeing the horror.
But in the midst of so much trauma and pain, he said he also witnessed the “miracle and the importance of people coming together” as he volunteered to serve as a pastoral chaplain at ground zero.
“It was a sight I will never forget — an ocean of scrap metal and rubble as far as the eye can see,” said Block, who is now the lead pastor at New Song Church in Henderson. “But atop that ocean, I saw little groups of people, volunteers, and as I looked closer, I could see first responders from nearly every state in the country and beyond … I know that there was a large Nevada contingent, of course, and it brought me to tears to know and to see that in this time of trial, we came together as one nation, one people.”
In that spirit, several hundred people came together Saturday as part of Henderson’s third annual Community Day of Service at Cornerstone Park to pay it forward, showing a sign of unity and also paying tribute to first responders and the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“We remember those who didn’t run from the buildings but ran to the buildings to climb the stairs,” said Tom Thomas, a local leader with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “We remember those who were the first to run to the tragedies to see what they could do to help, but now, a day after, we celebrate the response of this great country in reaching out to those in need over the following days and weeks and months, and establishing a pattern of service that has resonated for 25 years in this country.”
The annual event — supported by the cities of Henderson and Boulder City, JustServe, faith organizations, charities and nonprofits — has steadily grown to where there were 37 service projects taking place across 14 locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
“We started this three years ago, probably 10 percent, 20 percent of you were here, and look what it’s grown into,” Henderson Councilmember Dan Stewart said.
Henderson Councilmember Jim Seebock, who retired from the Metropolitan Police Department after 30 years in 2023, recalled being put on alert on 9/11 and being a part of Nevada Task Force One as a K-9 handler.
Seebock said his colleagues told him of what they saw after sifting through collapsed stairwells and rubble, specifically the remains of people. What stood out to Seebock was how recovery crews would line up on both sides with a stretcher adorned with an American flag every time they found a first responder, underscoring the importance of thanking them as they rush into danger every day.
Saturday’s event was also attended by Gov. Joe Lombardo and Rep. Dina Titus.
“Service doesn’t ask you what church you go to, ask you what party you belong to (or) ask you where you came from,” Titus said. “It’s just something that draws us together as one nation, and that’s the way we should be remembering that day and providing service to those as we move forward.”
Contact Devan Patel at dpatel@reviewjournal.com
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