"We Remember" Ceremony in Iowa Park
By: Ryan Robertson
Updated: September 11, 2012
With each ring of the bell, those gathered in Iowa Park paid tribute to the nearly 3000 men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
As the sun began to shine, memories of that fateful day came flooding back.
"You never can forget where you were at that day," said Chief Deputy Derrald Choates with the Wichita County Sheriff's Office, "I think everybody that experienced that morning will always remember that was an attack on the United States, and we were all a part of that that day."
"I was with my wife, we were glued to the T.V.," said Michael Merrill, who has has been involved in Iowa Park's "We Remember" ceremony for 10 years.
With every song he sings, he said he tries to pass on the lessons learned from 9/11 to the younger generations, and what it means to live life to the fullest.
"I hope they become positive members of our community and try to contribute things," said Merrill, "and try to do as much right as they possibly can."
Amarion Williams was just a baby when the towers fell, but he knows that day has helped shape his life.
"My dad tells me about it and every time he tells me he just gets a gloomy look and kind of gets sad and gets down a little bit and cries," said Williams, "It just makes me want to cry, too."
"Arising from the very ashes of that tragedy, came a remarkable spirit of unity, compassion, and determination that will never be forgotten," said Iowa Park Mayor Dan Fears, as he addressed the crowd gathered at City Hall Park.
And it is that message of hope, and the American determination to overcome, which will be remembered.
"So many of our first responders in New York City that day ran toward the danger when everybody else was running away," explained Wichita County Commissioner Barry Mahler, "and when you realize that we've got people right here in Wichita County that do that on a daily basis, it just made me much more aware of the sacrifices they make and the great job they do for our community."
Sacrifice and honor.
Things which should be remembered, and never forgotten.
As the sun began to shine, memories of that fateful day came flooding back.
"You never can forget where you were at that day," said Chief Deputy Derrald Choates with the Wichita County Sheriff's Office, "I think everybody that experienced that morning will always remember that was an attack on the United States, and we were all a part of that that day."
"I was with my wife, we were glued to the T.V.," said Michael Merrill, who has has been involved in Iowa Park's "We Remember" ceremony for 10 years.
With every song he sings, he said he tries to pass on the lessons learned from 9/11 to the younger generations, and what it means to live life to the fullest.
"I hope they become positive members of our community and try to contribute things," said Merrill, "and try to do as much right as they possibly can."
Amarion Williams was just a baby when the towers fell, but he knows that day has helped shape his life.
"My dad tells me about it and every time he tells me he just gets a gloomy look and kind of gets sad and gets down a little bit and cries," said Williams, "It just makes me want to cry, too."
"Arising from the very ashes of that tragedy, came a remarkable spirit of unity, compassion, and determination that will never be forgotten," said Iowa Park Mayor Dan Fears, as he addressed the crowd gathered at City Hall Park.
And it is that message of hope, and the American determination to overcome, which will be remembered.
"So many of our first responders in New York City that day ran toward the danger when everybody else was running away," explained Wichita County Commissioner Barry Mahler, "and when you realize that we've got people right here in Wichita County that do that on a daily basis, it just made me much more aware of the sacrifices they make and the great job they do for our community."
Sacrifice and honor.
Things which should be remembered, and never forgotten.
