Jonathan Jackson
Soldiers, firemen, law enforcement officers and members of the community all gathered Thursday at Georgia College & State University for a ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
“You take away a feeling of appreciation from an event like this,” Lt. Raynard Tuft with the GCSU Police Department said at the event.
Tuft, who served 20 years in the military before joining the force, recalled when he first heard of the attacks.
“I remember exactly where I was when I heard about the attacks. I was an Army career counselor at Ft. Gordon, sitting at my desk, when someone came in and said we were being attacked,” Tuft said.
Tuft recalled the subsequent time spent watching live coverage of the events as they played out in the national news media. Like Tuft, other apprehensive Americans stayed glued to the television, and held on to hope for any new piece of information as the day unfolded.
Event organizer Kendall Stiles, GIVE Center director, greeted those gathered Thursday as representatives lit candles in memory of the police, fire rescue, armed forces, rescue animals and civilians killed in the attacks. A moment of silence was observed to remember the fallen heroes of the attacks, and a musical selection was provided by a soloist.
Five sets of five rings from a fire bell marked, exponentially, the nearly 3,000 who perished as a result of the terror attacks.
At the close of the program, Stiles asked the crowd gathered to form a reception line to greet and thank the law enforcement, military and fire rescue personnel at the ceremony.
“I’m honored that the public recognizes and appreciates our efforts,” Maj. Joe Grant with the GCSU Police Department said. “Ordinary people just like you and me were doing their jobs that day. You just never know when that day will come.”
