Sweet Home residents joined together in Sankey Park on Sept. 11 to remember those who lost their lives when terrorists attacked the United States last year and to honor the firefighters, paramedics, police and servicemen who worked to save lives and fight a war against terrorism.
“We grieve for the senseless and traumatic loss of life at the World Trade Towers, the Pentagon and on United Airlines Flight 93, which went down in western Pennsylvania,” Hillside Fellowship Pastor Dick Hill said before giving the invocation. “Yes, we want to remember Sept. 11, 2001; but we also want to call on God for aid to get us all through this traumatic time in our lives and for guidance to make our lives more productive for the glory of God.
“I would like to remind all of us gathered here this evening that the commemoration ceremony is not just a social occasion but a service in which things are remembered, we are challenged to ‘roll on’ and prayers are offered and a blessing given.…
“We as a nation must united in prayer to soothe our wounds and to seek the solace and aid of the Almighty. God is indeed a very present help in time of trouble. In the midst of this tragedy, if we cannot lift up our hearts to God, then America is over as a nation.”
In prayer, “we remember … the firemen, police, unnamed heroes, rescue workers, the thousands who have lost their husbands, wives, sons and daughters, friends and companions,” Pastor Hill said. “We also pray for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. We bring a deeper sense of our own vulnerability. We bring our confusion, our fear and our grief into your great hands and heart where we meet others whose pain matches our own, others whose wounds have come at the hands of others.… In my calling, I hear your voice saying, ‘Lo, I am with you always.’ Amen.”
“It’s hard to believe that it was only a year ago we gathered in this very same location,” Mayor Craig Fentiman said. “That it was only a year ago our entire nation froze, and the whole world seemed to stop turning. Sept. 11, 2001, will be forever engraved on the hearts and minds of every American.
“We all remember exactly where we were when the news of planes crashing into the Twin Towers blasted from TVs and radios. We will never forget the way we felt when we saw the thousands of innocent victims and the heroic firefighters and police officers that lost their lives trying to rescue them. Not only will we never forget these images and feelings, we must never forget them.…
“As American people let us never forget the capacity that we have as a nation and community to come together during times of tragedy. If anything good has come out of such a dark day in our nation’s history, it is a renewed spirit of patriotism that was lost in our country in the days preceding 9/11. With this renewed spirit, we will continue to fight for the freedom that has made this country the great nation that we all love.…
“We must never forget the innocent victims, the police officers, the firefighters and all those who became heroes and continue to be heroes as a result of 9/11.”
Fire Chief Mike Beaver shared the firefighters prayer and words with those gathered. He explained the tolling of the bell, something hearkening to the days of the telegraph booths used to communicate with firefighters.
When a firefighter would die, the tolling of the bell would be done in memory. The fire alarm would tap out a special signal, five measured dashes and a pause three times.
Standing near the flag in Sankey Park, Firefighter Tim Walker held a bell as firefighter Dave Trask tapped it with a hammer, followed by a moment of silence.
The tolling of the bell was “to recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Chief Beaver said.
“One year ago, yesterday, Sept. 10, our officers joined with our colleagues to mourn the loss of Albany Police Officer Jason Hoerauf, killed in the line of duty while helping others,” Police Chief Bob Burford said. “I vividly remember the solemn funeral procession from Albany to Lebanon. Draped from two fire trucks hung an American flag and the miles-long column of police cars all with emergency lights operating in silent tribute passed beneath the giant symbol of this great country.
“As our officers made their way east, the streets were lined on both sides with people holding American flags, hats in hand and heads bowed in tribute.… The symbolism and sentiments reflected in these displays of patriotism moved even the most hardened officer to shed a tear.
“I remember looking forward to arriving to work the following morning and raising our own American flag back to full staff, in effect putting a sad chapter behind us. The flags were never raised that day.
“Since then, the entire nation has witnessed a new sense of purpose and patriotism. Yet the visible signs have already waned. Not as many people take the time to stop and tell the soldier, the firefighter or the police officer they are doing a good job. And yes, there are far fewer flags flying today.
“For 225 years our men and women in uniform, whether it be military or police, federal, state and local, have made the ultimate sacrifice under the banner of our great flag. Let us today honor each of them and always make certain they did not die in vain.”
Closing the Sankey Park ceremony, the Foster sixth grade presented a program reminding those present that freedom is not free, that many have paid the price for freedom.
It is not purchased in a store but by defending it. The students named U.S. wars back to the War for Independence and ending with the war against terrorism.
“Freedom isn’t free,” they said. “You’ve got to pay the price.”
Placing the hats of police officers, firefighters and others who have sacrificed on a miniature Statue of Liberty, they added “those who have paid the price and sacrificed, our hats go off to you. You make us proud to be Americans.”
Some present at the Sankey Park ceremony traveled to Sweet Home Assembly, which was hosting a communitywide memorial service.
“We felt the reverberations 3,000 miles away to the west,” United Methodist Pastor Karen Little said in opening remarks. “I believe they felt the reverberations 3,000 miles away to the east.”
The attacks on Sept. 11 are a worldwide concern, she said.
Fire Lawn Lutheran Pastor Mike Schaefer prayed that God would bring life, love and peace across the nation and world. He thanked God for shining His light across the nation a year ago.
“We are fragile and vulnerable for all of our defensive might,” Crawfordsville Community Church Pastor Gene Wolski said. “Hatred is an ever-present danger.… (but) a fireman’s battered helmet, a policeman’s twisted badge, they remind us that there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for another.”
“It’s very appropriate for us to be here this evening,” Sweet Home Evangelical Pastor John Sills said. “Our lives have been indelibly marked by what happened to our brothers and sisters a year ago.”
He delivered a sermon based on Isaiah 6:1: “In the year of King Uzaiah’s death, I saw the Lord.”
“The paradox of our human condition is that when tragedy strikes, we’re looking the wrong way,” Pastor Sills said. Instead people need to look toward and see God.… If we will put our trust in God, His ongoing peace and presence will sustain us no matter how terrible the circumstances” as Isaiah was sustained by the loss of the beloved leader, who sitting on the throne for 52 years had been the only one Isaiah had ever known.