by Al Summers
News Editor • alsummers@timescourier.com
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‘We have the best nation in the world’
Beneath the backdrop of an American flag, Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson addresses public safety personnel, veterans, and members of the community during Monday evening’s commemoration service of the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The sheriff was joined by other public safety officers and guests during the program. Photo by Al Summers
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Nearly 300 public safety personnel, veterans, and members of the community gathered Monday evening, Sept. 11, to mark the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America, the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia. The focus of the ceremony was the remembrance of the victims of the attack which included firefighters, law officers, emergency medical personnel, port authority works, and passengers and crew on three hijacked airliners.
The ceremony took place at the Veteran’s Memorial in front of the Gilmer County Civic Center and included a candle light vigil for those who perished on that day.
After brief speeches by county and city public safety officers, all of those who protect and serve Gilmer County’s three communities were recognized along with veterans who were in attendance.
Tim Reeves, a field coordinator for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) served as emcee for the event that featured speeches by Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, Gilmer County Fire Chief Travis Worthington, Ellijay Fire Chief Jeff Hurd, and Rick and Lucy Harris.
Nicholson expressed appreciation for his officers, all public safety employees, and the members of the military, both past and present, and ended his words by saying, “The United States military is the most powerful and courageous in the world”, which brought a round of applause from those in the audience.
Appalachian Superior Court Judge Roger Bradley, at the invitation of the sheriff, read a letter that was written by an Australian dentist entitled “To Kill An American”.
The letter explained that anyone who embodies the human spirit of freedom is an American, regardless of national origin.
Worthington told the crowd, “A firefighter will sacrifice his or her life to save another life,” and, “America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
The chief then recited the “Firefighter’s Prayer” and rang out fire code 10-42 on a silver bell. The code 10-42 signals the end of a duty shift.
Chief Hurd relayed to the crowd, “Patriotism does not develop from the fear of someone. It develops from the love of someone.”
Lucy Harris spoke of the ultimate sacrifice her son, Noah, made as an United States Army officer serving in Iraq in 2005. “Noah believed in what he was doing,” she said referring to her son’s helping the Iraqi people establish a democracy and fighting terrorism.
Harris’ husband, Rick, spoke on the difference between American and others across the world. He said Americans believe in the individual where the terrorists think with a tribe mentality. There is no place for the individual. Americans value human life, the terrorists have no regard for life.
He went on to say that Americans should be the best people they can possibly be, and should not be luke warm in doing it. “We must have extraordinary citizens to have an extraordinary country.”