Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ceremonoy held for Sept. 11, 2001 victims

Prescott residents honored those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a ceremony at the senior adult center.

Kathy Johnson, president of the Woodmen of the World Insurance Co., presented the center with a new flag pole and American flag, along with a plaque honoring one of 700 who died. The local plaque was in memory of Martin Demeo.

"This is a day of remembrance," said Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor, "a day to remember those who lost their lives in the attack."

Taylor likened the terrorist attacks to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. "We don't know why these things happen, but they do," he said. "It's brought new patriotism."

Other nations, he said, envy the lifestyle enjoyed by Americans, a lifestyle the nation's mayors are working to preserve.

The sacrifice made by those who died in the attacks and subsequent collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, will never be forgotten, Taylor continued.

He said the lives of Americans haven't been the same since the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Kevin Smith delivered an address from Congressman Mike Ross, who was unable to attend as he was voting in Washington, D.C.

Ross said Sept. 11, 2001, will forever be etched in the memory of America.

He was in Washington when the plane flew into the Pentagon, and could see smoke from his office window.

Ross joined other members of the House and Senate in an impromptu prayer and song on the Capitol steps.

"Looking back," he said, "I can't help but be proud of those who sacrificed their lives to save others."

Ross referred to the passengers of the Pennsylvania flight who fought with the terrorists aboard their plane, which crashed into the Pennsylvania countryside. That plane had been destined to fly into the Capitol itself.

Members of Congress, Ross said, placed flags on the wreaths at Ground Zero in New York.

What was once a symbol of American business and commerce is now a hole seven-stories deep, and though progress has been made at the cleanup site, much remains to be done, he said.

"We are more determined than ever to end terrorism," Ross said. "Our way of life was threatened that day  it attacked the very heart of freedom."

Maxine Freeman was one of 16 area volunteers who went to New York to help in the recovery effort.

She told of leaving Little Rock for Atlanta, then flying on to New York.

But, she said, while in Atlanta, while eating someone asked about the "uniform" she was wearing. When she explained she was a volunteer going to help, they insisted on picking up her tab.

All volunteers in the relief effort had to wear uniforms consisting of shirts, jeans, vests and badges or they wouldn't be allowed near Ground Zero.

The "uniform", Freeman said, would get volunteers in places others couldn't go.

Members of the group served food and drink to the rescue workers, and did eventually get to go to the site where the World Trade Center once stood.

"I feel I'm a part of history for what I've done," she said.