Community remembers Sept. 11, 2001
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
The ninth anniversary remembrance and observance for Sept. 11, 2001 was held at noon Saturday, Sept. 11 on the Highland County Courthouse lawn.
Approximately 35 people attended the 90-minute ceremony, held in memory of the more than 3,000 lives lost during and after the terrorist attacks nine years ago.
Shane Montgomery, pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Hillsboro, is the county coordinator, in conjunction with the Awakening America Alliance.
"We would like to make this an annual event in Highland County and maybe have the county officials and community take over the event," Montgomery said.
"There are similar gatherings in all 50 states today," Montgomery said. "We thank God and praise Him for this."
Montgomery spoke of the need for a spiritual renewal across America. "We have an internal crisis, a moral crisis in America. Our Founding Fathers believed in God. They trusted in themselves, their families, their friends and their church. We need to take our faith seriously. We can't give up."
Pastor Danny Shaffer of the Hillsboro church of Christ in Christian Union read from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, noting, "There is a time for every season. A time to weep, a time to mourn."
"Can you imagine the 3,000 people who lost their lives and their families, and how they would be touched by this showing of support across America today?"
Public officials in attendance included Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley.
Donley was also one of the ceremony's guest speakers. Donley noted the memorial service was held on "almost hallowed ground," where the historic Highland County Courthouse, built in 1832, still stands in use as a county courthouse.
"We have to be the keepers of the faith our forefathers had," Donley said. "That faith, that liberty, that cause for freedom, and this includes our heavenly Father's son, Jesus.
"We should not forget the victims of Sept. 11. We must not forget."
Donley spoke of the bravery of the passengers on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, the innocent children who perished in daycare centers at
the World Trace Center, and the heroic first responders who were called to the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and to Shanksville, Pa.
"We need grass-roots organizations like this that give us pause to think if for only a moment," Donley said. "It makes you proud to be an American knowing of all the sacrifices made on Sept. 11."
Tom Knauff, pastor of the Leesburg United Methodist Church, led The Lord's Prayer and a number of inspirational songs were sung and read.
Montgomery closed with a prayer for all of the families affected by the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. He invited everyone to attend an observance next year on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
The ninth anniversary remembrance and observance for Sept. 11, 2001 was held at noon Saturday, Sept. 11 on the Highland County Courthouse lawn.
Approximately 35 people attended the 90-minute ceremony, held in memory of the more than 3,000 lives lost during and after the terrorist attacks nine years ago.
Shane Montgomery, pastor of the Grace Bible Church in Hillsboro, is the county coordinator, in conjunction with the Awakening America Alliance.
"We would like to make this an annual event in Highland County and maybe have the county officials and community take over the event," Montgomery said.
"There are similar gatherings in all 50 states today," Montgomery said. "We thank God and praise Him for this."
Montgomery spoke of the need for a spiritual renewal across America. "We have an internal crisis, a moral crisis in America. Our Founding Fathers believed in God. They trusted in themselves, their families, their friends and their church. We need to take our faith seriously. We can't give up."
Pastor Danny Shaffer of the Hillsboro church of Christ in Christian Union read from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, noting, "There is a time for every season. A time to weep, a time to mourn."
"Can you imagine the 3,000 people who lost their lives and their families, and how they would be touched by this showing of support across America today?"
Public officials in attendance included Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and Highland County Clerk of Courts Paulette Donley.
Donley was also one of the ceremony's guest speakers. Donley noted the memorial service was held on "almost hallowed ground," where the historic Highland County Courthouse, built in 1832, still stands in use as a county courthouse.
"We have to be the keepers of the faith our forefathers had," Donley said. "That faith, that liberty, that cause for freedom, and this includes our heavenly Father's son, Jesus.
"We should not forget the victims of Sept. 11. We must not forget."
Donley spoke of the bravery of the passengers on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, the innocent children who perished in daycare centers at the World Trace Center, and the heroic first responders who were called to the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and to Shanksville, Pa.
"We need grass-roots organizations like this that give us pause to think if for only a moment," Donley said. "It makes you proud to be an American knowing of all the sacrifices made on Sept. 11."
Tom Knauff, pastor of the Leesburg United Methodist Church, led The Lord's Prayer and a number of inspirational songs were sung and read.
Montgomery closed with a prayer for all of the families affected by the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. He invited everyone to attend an observance next year on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
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