About 75 people attended the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 events on the southeast corner of the Clinton Square, Sunday morning. Sheriff Kent Oberkrom emceed the event and the key note speaker was Chester Jones, retired Senior Chief Petty Officer, US Navy.
Deanna Hendrich gave the opening prayer: “We remember a dark day,” she started. Hendrich prayed that we remember the lives that were taken, but also remember to feel gratitude for our own lives. She also prayed that, in these divisive times, we remember our leaders and set aside our differences. Following the opening prayer, Boy Scout Troop 430 led the crowd in the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The National Anthem was sang by CHS student Xavier Mason – who did a fine job with it. Following the anthem, key note speaker Chester Jones spoke to those gathered.
“Everybody knows the facts and numbers of that day,” said Jones. He shared his experiences of an event that happened to him the morning following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, 21 years ago. He remembered witnessing a bad car wreck near Kansas City and the heroic acts of a nurse – who was on her way to work. Just after the wreck had halted traffic, he remembered how “a young lady in scrubs jumped out of her vehicle and ran across the lane with no hesitation,” The truck had flipped over and Mr. Jones, too, got out to help; the truck by then had also caught fire. He told the crowd that after the driver of the truck had finally been freed and was being treated, Jones noticed that the nurse, who had jumped out to help, had been barefoot the whole time. “We are put in situations to do what is right,” he said. And, perhaps, that was Mr. Jones’s overall message – that the first responders of the fateful morning of the 9/11 attacks were put in a situation, but just “did what was right” – at great cost to themselves. They continue to do so today (and, indeed, the ambulance personnel were called out in the middle of the ceremony). “You might not be wearing a uniform, but it does not mean you cannot get out and help.” he concluded.
“Taps” was played by Sam Gibbons followed by a moment of silence. The closing Benediction was said by Clinton Fire Department Chaplain Dan Beebe and the event ended at about 7:30 a.m.
