Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Flag raised over Emmet

Though strong winds were blowing, a crowd gathered at Emmet's City Hall to honor America with a flag ceremony.

Emmet Mayor Dale Booker and the city council had a new flag pole erected on the grounds of City Hall and had a new American flag raised on it Saturday, Nov. 24.

Booker said this is something the city has needed for a long time. He introduced city officials to those in the audience, telling them Emmet has a cross-section of talent and a "little bit of everything in America."

One of Emmet's sons, he said, was sent to Washington as Congressman from the Fourth Congressional District  Mike Ross.

Ross reminisced growing up in Emmet, saying he mowed every lawn in town at one time or another.

"I remember going to the Emmet Mercantile and getting a coke and candy bar for a quarter. That was a long time ago," he said.

"I thank everyone who played a part in this event. It means a lot to take pride in your community and America by displaying a new pole and flag."

September 11, he said, is a day no one will ever forget where they were. Ross was in his office in the Cannon Building when news of the attack came. Looking out his window, he saw smoke from the Pentagon, which had also been attacked by terrorists using a commercial plane to fly into the structure.

"I never thought I'd see the Pentagon on fire from a terrorist attack," he said. "I never dreamed the twin towers would come tumbling down in New York City."

Shortly after the attacks, members of Congress joined together on the Capitol steps in a show of unity to the terrorists who committed the cowardly acts.

It wasn't planned, Ross said, but those congressmen gathered sang "God Bless America," with more than a few with tears in their eyes.

Ross is one of 32-members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of representatives who believe politics shouldn't be about what makes the party look good, but instead, doing what's best for the American people Congress represents.

The ceremony on the Capitol steps, Ross said, made those present recognize the freedoms and liberties enjoyed by Americans daily, but are all too often taken for granted.

"Sept. 11 was a wake-up call," he said. "It was a good thing. We gave President George W. Bush the money and authority to do what's needed in Afghanistan.

"We have the opportunity to take back the United States for families, and we must seize this opportunity.

"People from 80 countries died on Sept. 11, countries two years ago that would have laughed at doing anything with the United States, but are now working with us.

"We'll take this group of thugs out of power and restore Afghanistan to it's people so they can be free. We've sent a message to Usama bin Laden the United States won't take what happened on Sept. 11 laying down."

This, Ross said, is a war the likes of which has never been fought before by the U.S. America is tracking down terrorists in the U.S. and across the world, destroying their cells, bases of operation and punishing those who give them shelter.

"We're taking the United States back to the way it was before Sept. 11," he said.

Ross was part of a delegation that went to New York to see the aftermath of the attack. "What struck me most," he said, "was the rescue workers were still there working 12-16 hours a day. They've had no chance to grieve."

More than 300 firemen and 100 police officers died in the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, as they were caught trying to rescue others when the second plane hit and the towers fell.

"People are starting to see policemen and firemen as the true American heroes," Ross said. "We have another set of heroes  the men and women in the American Armed Forces who risk their lives every day so we can enjoy the freedoms we have."

Ross reminisced, saying his grandfather only had a third-grade education, but was a wise man nonetheless. "He taught me to always look for the good in something bad.

"I see a nation praying more today, a nation more patriotic than ever before. The people of America appreciate their soldiers more and recognize police and firemen as true heroes."

Ross praised the veterans in the audience, thanking them for the sacrifices they made so ceremonies such as this could be held.

Booker said in the early hours of Sept. 11 the country received a devastating blow, with thousands of lives lost, hundreds of millions in damage done and an unimaginable hurt being inflicted on the nation.

"It's been said every storm cloud has a silver lining," Booker said. "This one does, too. Our nation is more united than I've ever seen it. Our officials are working together to solve the nation's problems. There is a silver lining to this tragedy.'

Booker said the United States would be stronger than ever because of the attack, then dedicated the flag pole and flag to the people of Emmet.