Officers of the Youngstown Police Department line up for a 21-gun salute at the 9/11 Memorial Park in Austintown on Friday.

AUSTINTOWN — Sitting on a lawn chair, DeEtta Miller of Austintown listened to speakers and remembered the events of Sept. 11, 2001, while she waved her little American flag.

“I’m very patriotic,” Miller, 80, said after a remembrance ceremony Friday at the 9/11 Memorial Park in Austintown.

Noting that members of her family served in previous wars, Miller said she tries to show support for her fellow Americans by “being the first one to offer help” when others are in need.

The annual event, which organizers said has had larger crowds in previous years, saw a smaller group donning masks and keeping their distance because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 9/11 Memorial Park, located on South Raccoon Road, is the vision of creator Patrick Connolly, who was in attendance and watched the event that began at 10 a.m.

Taking a few minutes to share his story about how he enlisted in the Army was Austintown native Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Revetti, this year’s keynote speaker.

“Sept. 11 was a turning point in my life, when I found a calling larger than myself,” Revetti, a 1998 Fitch High School graduate, said. “On this day 19 years ago, our country bonded and stood together.”

Coming from a line of veterans himself, Revetti remarked that as events unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001, he knew what he had to do.

“I remember exactly where I was that day, and what I was doing,” he said.

Shortly after, Revetti drove to the recruitment offices that were located then at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman.

Stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, it wasn’t until after three years of service and training in field artillery that Revetti went to Iraq for 12 months, where he said he “was alongside some of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met.”

Setting out to serve his country as members of his family had done throughout the years, Revetti said he felt the largest sense of accomplishment during and after his tour overseas.

“Selfless, patriotic, honest, motivated, exceptional and brave is how I remember the service members and first responders who served that day and every day after,” Revetti said.

Revetti is now a station commander of the Boardman recruiting station for the Army, and with wife Dana has two children, who were present Friday to listen to their soldier share his experience.

The annual ceremony was organized by Sam Swogger of the township’s 9/11 memorial committee.

Where rows of metal risers are organized, only one section was available for people to use, while anyone else attending stood at a distance from others.

Usually, the concert choir from Fitch High School performs, Swogger said. “They really miss being here. They love being here.”

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti spoke, reading the times of the airplane strikes to the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon and the plane that crashed in Shanksville, Pa.

The event was emceed by township Trustee Jim Davis.