9/11 Memorial Service: "We Will NEVER Forget!"

The 14th Annual Remembrance Ceremony honoring the brave Americans during September 11th, 2001, took place at 5:00 o'clock Friday evening. Original plans called for the solemn event to be beside the 9-11 Memorial on the campus of the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office at 940 New Salem Highway. It did take place at that facility, but due to storms, the program was inside the Central Intelligence building.

Sheriff Robert Arnold welcomed everyone, while RCSO Chaplain Tim Eldred gave the invocation.

Sheriffs Explorer Post 106 then posted the American Flag while Explorer Sergeant Cody Pugh led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. After that contemporary Christian recording artist Christie Jennings sang the National Anthem. That segment conclude with Rolling Thunder presenting the POW flag to Sheriff Arnold.

The keynote speaker was Commander Todd Michael Sullivan, the executive officer of the Navy Recruiting District in Nashville. This 27-year career veteran said, "9/11 was the greatest tragedy that has happened on American soil. The attacks were on New York City, the Pentagon and the American way of life were unprovoked."

He noted, "America responded to the 9-11 terrorists' attacks with resolve and courage, qualities that make the United States a source of hope for people around the world."

Commander Todd Sullivan said America lost 2,977 people Sept. 11, 2001, including Commander Robert Schlegel and Navy men and women. Americans will never forget the victims or their families.

History will view 9-11 through two lenses, one of America's grief over the loss of loved ones and the second view of the response.

"America's reaction to such evil and cowardice was to join together and stand up for the freedom that our nation was built on," Sullivan said. "Our nation's resolve was apparent even during the moments we were under attack."

Sheriff Arnold said everyone remembers watching the attacks on the World Trade Center and the silence that followed with no planes flying afterwards.

"We must never forget those who died that day," Sheriff Arnold said.

Commander Sullivan said, "Like all Americans, I remember well where I was that morning. I was aboard the USS Camden that home ported in Bremerton, Washington. I was having a cup of coffee. I was drinking a cup of coffee while the news unfolded on the TV screen."

The Naval leader noted that history will look back on 9/11 through two lenses. "The first, will be on America's grief and focused on those people we lost. The second view of September 11th will be on how America responded. It is a view of resolve and courage. America's reaction sent evil and cowardliness against the strength and freedom that our nation was built upon."

Sullivan concluded by saying . . .

(time: 25-seconds)