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Celebration honors memory of those lost six years ago
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 10:43 PM EDT
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| Flanked by an Honor Guard of JROTC members (right to left) Anthony Kennan, Dale Thomas, Aaron Hardy and Matt Martin, AMVETS Post 124 Ladies Auxiliary members Sue Carpenter (left) and Reba Detro carried the patriotic wreath to Limestone Landing to lay at the base of the flagpole flying the special Patriots Day American Eagle Flag. -- Terry Prather/Staff |
By 6 p.m., when the bells of St. Patrick Church tolled six times families and soldiers were shoulder to shoulder with the floodwall murals and Ohio River as a backdrop.
Members of the Junior ROTC flanked AMVETS Post 124 Ladies Auxiliary members Sue Carpenter and Reba Detro as the ladies walked down Limestone Street and carried a patriotic wreath to the base of a flagpole bearing the special Patriots Day American Eagle flag at Limestone Landing.
Glenn George AMVETS public relations officer, emceed the event which included a musical tribute to America, sung my event coordinator Kim Sparks and the singing of the National Anthem by members of the Mason County High School Choir.
Compliments were paid to first responders off all types.
"We pay tribute to those who don't get the headlines, the first responders," said Maysville Mayor David Cartmell.
Reminders of a disaster that united, instead of divided the nation was how Mason County Judge Executive Buddy Gallenstein asked the group to remember Sept. 11, now known as Patriots Day.
"A terror we have never known darkened our skies that day," said Rep. Mike Denham who personalized the losses of Sept. 11 with names of some nurses who were killed or affected by the carnage of the day.
Lydia Estelle Bravo, a company nurse, was in Tower One above the 90th floor.
"Her friends commented after her death, 'We have truly lost an angel,'" said Denham.
He also reminded the crowd 66 soldiers from Kentucky have lost their lives in the fight against terror that began that day.
Maysville Fire Chief Eric Bach likened the attacks and time of healing that followed to a rose, with thorns, beauty and a sweet smell.
"It is a challenge to make the world a safer place ... we have our heroes from an act of war that was not expected. In addition to the thousands of others, 343 firefighters died in the line of duty that day. Think of others and be proud. A rose represents a new year, a fresh start and new growth," said Bach.
After a salute to first responders, including 911 Dispatchers, a salute to the crowd was also given by Maysville Police Chief Kent Butcher.
"I am proud of you for your continued support as we try to keep this community safe," said Butcher.
On a day to remember those lost, George announced that Sheriff Patrick Boggs was unable to attend because his family was welcoming a new life into the world.
"It's a baby girl," said George, which was met with applause from the crowd.
Sparks introduced guest speaker Major Shawn Flaugher, who kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as he related some of his memories of pre and post Sept. 11 activities in the military.
"There are so many acts of selfless service," said Flaugher.
He spoke of the Todd Beamer ("Let's Roll") story and what some call the first attack in the global war terrorism, by the doomed passengers of Flight 93.
"They knew their fate and they did battle in that cockpit," said Flaugher."If they had not there could have been countless other lives affected."
Flaugher spoke of the pre attack anti- America knowledge government officials were aware of about Usama bin Laden and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"They were talking about when, not if, an act of terrorism would come here," he said.
He also warned Americans not to be complacent about another possible attack and asked young people of the nation to take a challenge and serve a cause that is greater than themselves.
"Just so you know, al-Qaida is an equal opportunity killer. If you do not buy into their ideology they will kill you," said Flaugher.
Following his speech a 21 gun salute was fired.
With all branches of the military and first responders at attention, AMVETS members retired the flag to the tune of "Taps" played on a bugle, as the sun sank behind the Maysville city skyline.
For more area news, go to http://www.maysville-online.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.
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