Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 38	September 19, 2007

Solemn ceremonies mark Patriots Day

Photo by Larry See Jr.
Meade County Fire District Chief Larry Naser, center, offers a few words of tribute to both county firefighters and those on the national scene during a Patriot Day ceremony at the county courthouse.

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

Americans and Meade County residents paused to remember those who lost their lives Sept. 11, during Patriots Day ceremonies.

“I am sure this is the time that everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing at that particular time,” Meade County Judge Executive Harry Craycroft said during evening ceremonies at the courthouse.

“This is something you will never forget and that you have to keep in your mind,” Craycroft said.

Craycroft offered thanks to the firefighters and police officers, nationally and in Meade County, and said residents appreciate all of the hard work they do.

Meade County Fire District Chief Larry Naser recalled how he was glued to the television set six years ago watching New York City’s twin towers fall.

“The kids that are in 6th-grade were in kindergarten and this year’s graduates were mere 6th-graders at the time,” Naser said.

Naser said some firefighters have retired and new ones have taken their place and Hurricane Katrina has been added to the list of disasters.

Since Sept. 11, according to Naser, police, fire and emergency medical services, as well as the federal government, are working closer together, especially with the advent of unified communications.

“Freedom is seldom free,” Naser concluded, after which the bell on the courthouse lawn tolled three times, once for the towers, once for the Pentagon strike and a third time for the plane crash in the rural Pennsylvania countryside.

The courthouse ceremony featured representatives from county fire departments, EMS and city police departments and was preceded by a silent parade through Brandenburg.

Photo by Sandra Stone
Patriots Day at Battletown Elementary School has become a major event over the last few years with members of the military and local heroes – emergency services personnel – the school’s honored guests. The students, with the help of librarian Belinda Jones, herself a veteran, prepare a PowerPoint presentation reflecting the history of our nation from the day it changed forever – Sept. 11, 2001 – and honoring those who serve our nation, both locally and abroad. The guest speaker this year was Battletown alumnus Jeff Greer, state representative for the 27th District. Then it was time to head to the flagpole to fly the Battletown flag on the one day of the year it flies over Battletown Elementary School – Patriots Day. Honored guests included Judg Executive Harry Craycroft; Battletown firefighters Mike Harley, Bill Pipes, Robert House and Greg Crawford; Meade County firefighters Larry Naser, Mike Hack and Bryan Metcalf; Meade County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan McCubbin; Meade County EMT’s Larry Singleton and Patty Reesor; Meade County Deputy Jailer Terry Petit; Soldiers from 8-229th Aviation Regiment: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Bates, Sgt. 1st Class Gerardo Hernandez, Sgt. 1st Class Mike Fisher, Staff Sgt. Juan Bidlot and Sgt. Brandon Nelson; Soldiers from 100th Division: Staff Sgt. Shelly Underwood and Staff Sgt. Craig Tighe; also Sgt. 1st Class John Jasso, Staff Sgt. Keith Stiltner and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Sam Watford. Please see more Patriots Day coverage inside this issue.

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