Twenty-Three Years Later, Hudson County Community College Never Forgets, Invites Community to Join 9/11 Commemoration

Wounded Warrior Leader Chris Hoff will recount his experiences in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks; former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer will speak.

September 9, 2024, Jersey City, NJ – The 9/11 terrorist attacks killed citizens of 78 countries on United States soil, an act that challenged America’s strength and resilience. A generation later, annual remembrances honor the 2,977 lives lost in targeted attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93. The attacks took the lives of more than 700 New Jerseyans, including 155 Hudson County residents. Twenty-three years later, the pain of that day is still palpable as families mourn loved ones, workers remember lost colleagues, children have grown up not knowing a parent, and supporters continue to honor the fallen.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to join together on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 for an inspiring commemoration of that fateful day. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Benjamin J. Dineen III and Dennis C. Hull Gallery and Atrium of the HCCC Gabert Library at 71 Sip Avenue in Jersey City. Those planning to attend are asked to register here.

The event will begin with the raising of the flag at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Gabert Library. The ceremony will feature special remarks from Dr. Christopher Reber, HCCC President; John Farmer, who served as New Jersey Attorney General during 9/11; Dr. Christopher Cody, HCCC History Instructor, who will provide an historical timeline of events that led to the 9/11 attacks; and, Chris Hoff, a Wounded Warrior speaker who will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Yeurys Pujols, HCCC Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will provide closing remarks.

“The 9/11 remembrance we host each year reflects our dedication to honoring the legacies of those who lost their lives,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber. “In many ways, the terrorist attacks changed the way we live and still impact those who carry the emotional and physical scars. Through all of our pain, we have also been reminded that Americans can come together, heal, and emerge stronger by lifting and caring for each other.”

Keynote speaker Chris Hoff is a Wounded Warrior Project Peer Leader and retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who will share his experience of living with post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Hoff enlisted in the military straight out of high school in 1986 and was honorably discharged after serving for eight years. Inspired to reenlist in the Army Reserves after 9/11, Mr. Hoff suffered a traumatic brain injury during Humvee rollover training in Afghanistan. Undiagnosed and sent back to work, he attended fallen comrade ceremonies and volunteered to deliver the bodies of service members who had been killed to their families. As his personal life unraveled under the stress, Mr. Hoff contemplated suicide. The Wounded Warrior Project empowered him to live.

The rooftop terrace that adjoins the HCCC Atrium provides a befitting background for the event as it is home to a steel fragment believed to be from the World Trade Center North Tower East Façade. The artifact was part of the Remember 9/11 exhibit at the New Jersey State Museum before it was donated to the College.