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Tomorrow marks the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky attended a 9/11 memorial service in Springfield this morning and brings us this report…
Early this morning around the flag pole at Hillcrest High School, people gathered for an annual ceremony to remember the terrorist attacks that took place nine years ago tomorrow…The ceremony is conducted each year by Hillcrest’s JROTC Hornet Battalion of which Shelby Ammerman is a member. She was in 4th grade when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers, into the Pentagon and into a field in Pennsylvania…
"All I remember is my teacher came in, we all went into the class, and then she came in--it took awhile--and she was crying, and we were all wondering what happened. She turned on the tv in the classroom and clicked it to the news and was explaining to us what happened as it was explaining on the television."
Sherry Meeks’ daughter was in the color guard at the Memorial Ceremony. She came to support her and to honor those who died on 9/11…
"It was a beautiful ceremony."
The crowd listened to remarks by Army Staff Sergeant Dusty Wilmore who was a senior in high school when terrorists attacked the United States. He joined the service soon after high school and served in Iraq from December 2004 to March 2005 and from October 2006 to November 2007…
"And that was in Muqdiydah. It was directly after the big push thru Baghdad and when they were pushing all the insurgents into one cosolidated area."
He says he’s pleased with the progress that’s been made in that area of Iraq and says he was glad he could contribute toward that effort…
"My old squadron commander actually sent out an e-mail the other day. One of the banks that was getting blown up probably on a weekly basis and getting completely destroyed, had been completely rebuilt and is open for business again as well as several medical clinics and schools, so I feel that we were able to bring the people justice and bring them peace in the area."
Staff Sergeant Wilmore has lost several friends in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and he says attending the ceremony this morning was a way to honor them and all who serve.
Taps
For KSMU News, I’m Michele Skalicky.