Mike Pence marks 9/11 anniversary in Iowa with ceremony at Ankeny Fire Department

Mike Pence stood solemnly with the crowd at the Ankeny Fire Department as "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipes.

The former vice president began his day at the fire department's 9/11 remembrance ceremony, shaking hands with firefighters before the event got underway and thanking them for their service.

He bowed his head with the rest of the crowd as the Rev. Eric Pasanchin led a prayer for those affected.

"We ask for your blessing on all those who lived through and survived the attacks," Pasanchin said. "Heal them from the trauma they experienced. We pray for those who became ill due to contact with hazardous materials as they escaped from or cleaned up after the collapse of the Trade Center towers. And we pray, Lord, that you would comfort all the family members, friends and colleagues who lost loved ones on that terrible day."

Ankeny Fire Chief Vance Swisher said the images of the terror attack 22 years ago "are forever burned in our memory." And he said he's often reflected on why it's so important for first responders in particular to remember the events of that day.

"The answer is 9/11 has been the strongest example of dedication to duty by first responders in recent history," he said. "It is the most significant display of, and has set the expectation for, how first responders are expected to react as they respond to the needs of our communities. The sacrifice of these 470 first responders should not, and never will be forgotten."

Pence stayed after the ceremony ended to take pictures with members of the crowd and some of the firefighters.

Firefighter and paramedic Caleb Weddle, who was just two years old on Sept. 11, 2001, said it was meaningful to him that Pence came to the ceremony.

"It shows that he cares," Weddle said.

Speaking to local reporters afterward, Pence thanked the Ankeny Fire Department for taking time to pause and "pay one more debt of gratitude" to the first responders who served on 9/11.

"We pray for and remember the families of the nearly 3,000 that were lost that day," he said. "But today is every bit as much about remembering the heroes forged that day."

Pence said it's important to teach young people about the example of firefighters, law enforcement and military personnel who stepped up to serve that day.

"To see the way our firefighters and first responders ran in while others were, of necessity, running out on that day, to see hundreds of firefighters lose their lives that day without hesitation to save lives of people in those towers, but also to see the way that men and women literally lined the block around recruiting stations in the days and weeks that followed will always be an inspiration to me as an American," Pence said.

The remembrance ceremony in Ankeny was the first stop for Pence on a three-day visit to Iowa as he campaigns for the Republican nomination for president.

Presidential candidate and former Congressman Will Hurd was also in Iowa Monday, participating in a 9/11 walk from Waukee to the Capitol.

Fellow candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended a ceremony in New York at Ground Zero, as did Vice President Kamala Harris. Others released statements to mark the occasion.

President Joe Biden marked the day by speaking to soldiers at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, saying "on this day, every American's heart was wounded."

Biden pointed to the sense of national unity that sprung forth in the days immediately after the attacks and said it’s more important than ever that Americans come together around the principle of democracy.

“Those terrorists could not touch what no force, no enemy, no day ever could — and that is the soul of America,” he said.

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon at an ethanol plant in Charles City, Pence said he was "very disappointed" Biden did not visit one of the sites of the attacks, either at Ground Zero in New York City, at the Pentagon or in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"Look, I know it’s been 22 years, but I think these are moments where the leader of this country has the ability to pay a debt of gratitude, to remember those that were lost that day, but also to remember the heroes that were forged that day," Pence said.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Mike Pence observes 9/11 anniversary with firefighters in Iowa