The Cornelia Grant Reeves VFW Post 7720 along with other local veteran organizations held a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The vigil was held in the Dewey Tench Pavilion at the fairgrounds Monday evening. It was attended by approximately 60 people made up of citizens, visitors, veterans, and first responders.
VFW Department of Georgia Senior Vice Commander Bill Miles emceed the ceremony. He began with a prayer of remembrance. “This date 9/11 carries a heavy burden of memory. This day does not pass on the calendar without our remembering,” Miles prayed.
His prayer remembered the images of death and destruction that our eyes were never meant to see on that fateful day 23 years ago. His prayer reminded those in attendance of what was lost that day. The mothers and fathers that didn’t return home. The first responders that were lost trying to save others. The peace and security that was lost on that day.
Miles ended his prayer with asking God to grant us peace among God’s children.
The Joseph Habersham Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard presented the colors during the ceremony and Miles led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Grant Reeves singers led the audience in the singing of the National Anthem.
Difficult to grasp
Miles told the audience on September 11, 2001, “America witnessed a brand of ruthlessness and evil beyond the realm of comprehension. It was difficult for us to grasp the scope of the tragedies that happened that day.”
He reminded those in attendance, for most, the memories of that fateful day are still as vivid and as painful. Though time could never remove the pain, we could find solace in how our nation became united in the days and months following the attacks. Miles told of the heroism that took place on the ground among the rubble and in the air that inspired us.
“The terrorist attacks 23 years ago did not weaken us or dampen our spirit,” Miles said. He ended his address with, ”We continue to honor the memory and deeds from that fatal day.”
Current Grant Reeve VFW Post 7720 Commander Barry Church was the guest speaker for the ceremony.
“Where were you 23 years ago today?” Church asked the audience. He reminded them that on September 11, 2001 everybody started their day having no idea of the tragedies that were to come.
Education
He told the audience that one of the ways to keep such a tragedy from occurring again was through education. “As I look over this audience, there are young people here that have no idea what 9/11 means,” Church said. He told the audience that what occurred on 9/11 needed to be taught to the younger generation.
He told of the events that occurred on Flight 93 and the conversations that took place between the victims and the terrorists just before the plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Church explained that the attacks were well planned and could happen again.
“What we can do to keep it from happening is educate our young people,” Church said.
He told the audience that he taught a class recently and referenced 9/11 when they were discussing terrorism. Church said that the oldest cadet in the class was 21 years old and none of the cadets knew what he was talking about. He had to explain to them the events that occurred on September 11, 2001 because their parents had never told them what happened that day. “Let’s not be guilty of that,” Church said.
He explained that if we educate our children we just may be able to prevent another 9/11, if we don’t, it will happen again.
Tolling of the bell
After Church’s address, Miles began the tolling of the bell ceremony. The bell was tolled four times, once for each flight that crashed on 9/11. Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. The final flight that crashed that day was Flight 93 that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.
After the tolling of the bell, Miles and VFW member Jim Morgan lit a series of candles in memory of those lost that day. After lighting the candles, Miles asked the audience for a moment of silence.
Miles asked first responders and veterans in the audience to please stand and asked everyone to give them a round of applause for their service. “We want to thank you for your selfless service for our communities and our country,” he said.
He asked the audience to stand while volleys were fired from rifles, muskets, and a cannon. The volleys were followed by taps played by Kenneth Franklin.
