From left are Robert J. Sheils III, Councilman, Mike Parry, Larry De Fazio, Germaine Carey, Council President, and Fr. Stephen Asomah.
Submitted photo
A plaque honoring the memory of Clarks Summit native Laura Lee DeFazio Moritbo was placed during a ceremony held at the clock tower in Clarks Summit.
Submitted photo
Ceremonies were held throughout the area on Sept. 11, 2021, to mark the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa.
An event was held outside at the Waverly Community House where people gathered to remember and reflect.
The ceremony was led by Commander Donald Jones Clarkes Summit VFW Post 7069. Other members of the VWF were in attendance and gathered near the flag pole.
Members of the Dalton, Clarks Summit and Chinchilla Fire Companies were in attendance.
VFW Post 7069 chaplain Patrick Williams led the prayers.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said as the flag was raised and lowered to half-staff.
Rich Jenkins played the guitar before the ceremony and Jeff Leas played Taps.
“This was the 20th year that the community has gathered on the beautiful Comm grounds to mark the loss of life on Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor our first responders that include police, firefighters, health care workers and members of the armed services for their service, sacrifice and greatness,” said Maria Wilson Executive Director Waverly Community House. “Over one hundred years ago, the village of Waverly met on the same spot as Margaretta Belin and her family donated the Comm to its community it was founded in the wake of WW I and built by veterans with the promise and hope of a bright future. The fact so many met hundred years later to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country is evidence that the promise has been fulfilled.”
“The VFW is always honored to be there and has been for years,” said Jones. “It is a very emotional day for a lot of people and people can remember where they were when 9/11 occurred. “
The event was hosted by The Waverly Community House and sponsored in part by the Abington Rotary Club which provided refreshments.
A ceremony was held at the clock tower in Clarks Summit where a plaque honors the memory of Clarks Summit native Laura Lee DeFazio Moritbo.
The plaque reads in part “She was loved and respected by all who had the privilege to know her.”
She worked as a national sales associate for Qantas Airways, and was on flight 11 when it hit the twin towers in New York City.
She was a 1984 graduate of Abington Heights High School where she played softball and basketball and was in the band.
Her father, Lawrence DeFazio, attended along with members of Abington Heights High School Class of 1984, who graduated with her.
Her mother, Beverly DeFazio, brothers Jeff and Craig DeFazio, and husband Mark Moritbo were unable to attend.
The Rev. Stephen Asomah assistant pastor of Our Lady of Snows church gave the innovation.
“Her parents lived on Electric Street and mine lived on Powell Ave,” said Mike Parry, who grew up with Moritbo and went to school with her. “Laura and I were friends since we were 3 or 4 years old. We’d walk to Division Street School together and then we went to Abington Heights High School together. She was a like a sister to me. One of the best memories I have of her is when I pushed her brother Craig down. She said ‘that is my brother’ and punched me in the mouth knocking out a tooth. The next day we were back to playing together.”
A scholarship is awarded every year to a female athlete at Abington Heights, and Perry’s daughter, Leia, won the award. She is a 2019 graduate of Abington Heights High School.
“Laura was a wonderful, beautiful, humble and caring woman,” said her father Lawrence DeFazio. “She cared for everyone in the family. One story I like to tell is when she was a little girl, she’d like to play in the yard. She’d tell me when I get home that she’d like to hide in the yard and for me to find her. I could see her so I got a whistle. When I got home, I blew the whistle to let her know I was there and she and her friends went to hide. We used that whistle when we would go away and the children would go their own way. We’d blow the whistle to see where they were.”
“Clarks Summit Borough Council was honored to place a wreath to honor the cherished member of our borough resident Laura Moritbo who was killed in the plane crash of the twin towers,” said Gerrie Carey, president Clarks Summit Borough Council. “Our true honor was having her father Larry DeFazio take part in the honoring service for his daughter. Her memorial is the center of Clarks Summit and her memory will always be in the center of all our hearts.”
