Photo By Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Lt. Col. Eric S. Weissberger, executive officer of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry...... read more read more
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HAVELOCK, N.C. – The drizzle of rain and sound of bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" set the mood for a 9/11 memorial service at Havelock 9/11 Memorial Plaza Sept. 8. Children too young to remember, let alone grasp the immensity of the tragedy that took place 11 years ago played in puddles, waving American flags.
Hosted by the Havelock Mayor and Board of Commissioners, Havelock Fire Department and Havelock Police Department, Marines, sailors and local community members congregated at the memorial to pay their respects for 2,819 lives lost in the terrorist attacks.
"I wish we didn't have to have a memorial like this, but we do," said Havelock Mayor Jimmy Sanders. "The magnitude of the event is so enormous that we cannot forget. The events of the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 were an attack on America, an attack on all of us, an attack on our very freedom and an attack on our way of life."
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron color guard supported the memorial service as representatives of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Marine Corps as a whole.
"It's an honor to perform here and be a part of something so big," said Staff Sgt. Terri Kopetzki, a musician and public affairs representative with 2nd MAW Band.
Kopetzki said the band performed songs with patriotic theme like "God Bless America," "America the Beautiful," and "This Is My Country," and was moved when the crowd began singing along with lyrics.
"When 9/11 happened I was actually in Hiroshima, Japan and it was when I came home that I learned the attacks happened," she said. "I think it was because it was so far removed that it seemed like a sick joke."
Kopetzki, a corporal at the time, said it was like watching a movie and that it could not possibly be real.
When the reality of the attacks finally set in for her, she knew she wanted to stay in the military and keep playing her part in defending the country.
The ceremony was not only for the adults whose lives have been forever changed because of the tragedy.
"This memorial means a lot, for everyone," said Fire Chief Rick Zaccardelli. "One of the ideas we had during the construction of it was that there are so many schools in the area – at least five elementary schools – and there are kids that have no idea what 9/11 is, so they can come here and get a history lesson on what happened on that horrific day."
Sanders spoke about why the memorial was in Havelock and what it represented, especially to those who worked so hard to get it there.
"To me the answer is simple," he said. "We need a constant reminder of what happens if we become complacent. In my opinion, Havelock is the perfect place for this memorial because Havelock is America. We represent what America was created to become; we have citizens from all over the world in almost every known religious belief or background who live in harmony in our community. We live together in peace and we are bound by the fact we all love freedom and will defend it at any cost."
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2012 08:57 |
| Story ID: | 94647 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 227 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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