9/11 Ceremony has new twists

9/11 ceremony has new twists
09/05/2006

Remembrance pages focused on 9/11 and the war on terror will be created and put in a binder to be donated to the Bellevue Public Library."We'd like families to work together to create one page of memories - a collage, writing, pictures, mementoes, whatever 9/11 and the ensuing war mean to them," said Bill O'Donnell, president of the sponsoring Bellevue Kiwanis Club."It's a way of teaching kids and bringing families together to wrestle with a landmark event in all our lives.Remembrance pages can be turned in at tables set up at the ceremony.The annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will honor the men and women who have fought for and gave their lives for our country, as well as the lives lost on that tragic day in 2001. The ceremony is at the 9/11 Memorial in Haworth Park on Monday at 6:30 P.M.The memorial will be rededicated with the addition of gold stars engraved with the name, rank, branch of service, and home town of Nebraskans and Iowans who have lost their lives fighting the War on Terror. Families of the fallen warriors are being invited to attend the ceremony.The 9/11 Memorial consists of two 30-foot flagpoles, both flying the U.S. flag, to symbolize the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The flagpoles flank a pentagon-shaped base with the number "93" in the center, commemorating airline passengers and crew who crashed their plane in western Pennsylvania rather than let it be used in an attack.The ceremony will also include several specialized elements:* About 25-30 citizenship candidates will take the oath of citizenship;* Honor guards will fold the ceremonial flag as the meaning of each of the folds is explained;* A ceremony originated by the New York Fire Department, the sounding of the "four fives", will honor firefighters and emergency responders lost in the line of duty;* Roll Call of the Fallen will rededicate the memorial to each Heartland area fallen warrior;* Emergency responders and senior military officers will join in laying a commemorative wreath, to be followed by the playing of "Taps";* Guest speaker will be Major Gen. Roger Lempke, adjutant general for the State of Nebraska.For more information, contact Bill O'Donnell, president of the Bellevue Kiwanis Club at 898-6766 or 292-3387, or by e-mail at billodonnell1@cox.net.
©Suburban Newspapers 2006