Attendance might have been sparse but patriotism was strong at the Sept. 11 anniversary observance Sunday by the East Liberty County American Legion Post 321.

Post Commander Dennis Fitzgerald opened the ceremony at the Midway Volunteer Fire Department and asked those present for their personal feelings about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Remarks included:

"After 15 years, it may take another 9/11 to wake everybody up."

"It must never happen again. We have to continue reminding ourselves . . ."

One man said he was in the sixth grade in 2001 but he noticed "how unprepared we were . . . I think we learned a lot."

Fitzgerald said, "We need to pass on to the younger generation what happened and keep it from happening again."

Sept. 11 is officially designated as a holiday, Patriot Day, "in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001."

The ceremony closed with the formal retiring and destruction of U.S. flags that are no longer suitable for public display. The American Legion Post collects any U.S. flags that are worn and periodically disposes of them in a dignified way as specified in flag etiquette.