Solemn ceremonies share stage with patriotic displays
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The Marble Falls Rotary Club honored first responders and memorialized the armed forces Sept. 11 during a Patriot Day ceremony in Johnson Park. Pictured, from left, are Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander, Horseshoe Bay Fire Assistant Chief Stephanie Black and Marble Falls Area VFD Fire Chief Mike Phillips. Photos by Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
Marble Falls Fire Rescue Chief Russell Sander and Horseshoe Bay Fire Assistant Chief Stephanie Black -
Representatives of Marble Falls Police Department and Marble Falls Fire Rescue -
Rotarian and event organizers and speaker Steve Hurst -
Pictured from left: Marble Falls Police Capt. Aaron Garcia and Horseshoe Bay Police Assistant Chief Jason Graham -
Members of the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department -
Mayor Richard Westerman read a proclamation. -
Dozens of people attended the 9/11 20th Anniversary event at the Veterans and First Responders Memorial in Johnson Park. -
Marble Falls Area EMS
Residents throughout the Highland Lakes area hosted remembrances, ceremonies, patriotic halftime activities and a highway march to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon on that day, sparking a war in Afghanistan and loss of countless more lives and injuries to U.S. troops and families.
The local events, marking Patriots Day, also cultivated a spirit of patriotism and appreciation for the sacrifice of fallen troops as well as a unifying message throughout the community.
The Rotary Club of Marble Falls hosted a solemn ceremony at the Veterans and First Responders Memorial in Johnson Park on Saturday in remembrance of the attacks.
The ceremony featured recognition of local first responders from Marble Falls Fire Rescue, Marble Falls Police Department, Marble Falls Area EMS, Horseshoe Bay Fire Rescue and surrounding agencies.
Fire agency officials presented the significance of the ringing of the Fireman’s Bell. Mayor Richard Westerman made a proclamation. Rotary Club representatives Steve Hurst shared inspiring passages and Club President Lorinda Peters played Amazing Grace on the bag pipes.
Around the same time about a dozen patriots from Kingsland and Marble Falls to Horseshoe Bay and Fort Hood took a morning-long, 13-mile trek from Kingsland to Marble Falls, donning American flags. The event was the second of its kind, complete with a Granite Shoals Police escort.
The group ended with a flag transfer ceremony at the Marble Falls VFW Post 10376. (See story on page 1). The VFW post also hosted a string of activities, starting with a posting of colors in Horseshoe Bay, lunch deliveries to area first responders and remembrances of that fateful day two decades ago.
That night Marble Falls Independent School District hosted a halftime presentation that included the crowd being led by Choir Director Bryce Gage in the singing of “God Bless America,” recognition of first responders and patriotic color display in the stands.