Local church to host special 9/11 service
It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since the United States was turned upside down by the vicious terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Much has changed since that fateful day, and one area church wants to recognize the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 with a special tribute service.
Calvary Baptist Church on U.S. 43 in Russellville will hold a special service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to honor local veterans and first responders, including police officers, firefighters and medical personnel.
Calvary’s pastor, Dr. Wade Wallace, said he felt the service was fitting since the anniversary actually fell on a Sunday.
“There were 411 first responders who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,” Wallace said. “These men and women in our county put their lives on the line on a daily basis for other people and we want to let them know home much we appreciate what they do and we want to honor them for their service.”
Wallace said the service would include special recognition of all the veterans and first responders in attendance and special videos about Sept. 11.
“Most everything we do Sunday will center around the tribute,” he said. “Many of our youth probably don’t remember what happened on Sept. 11. I know my boys were only one and five years old at that time.
“They may have only read about this event in our nation’s history, but we don’t ever want them to forget that they can’t take the freedoms we have in this country for granted. Somebody fought and died for those freedoms.
“Sept. 11 changed everything about our nation and we just want to honor the people who play a special role in our community and our country in keeping us all safe daily.”
The service on Sunday will also include a meal for the first responders, which Wallace said was their way of saying “thank you,” for what these men and women do.
“We were planning to honor our police, firefighters and medical personnel after what they went through after the tornado here in our county on April 27 and this seemed like the best day to do it,” Wallace said. “Just like Sept. 11, April 27 is a day no one here will ever forget.
“These men and women worked tirelessly day in and day out during the minutes, hours and days following the tornado’s destruction and saw things many people never want to have to see.
“Whether someone is a first responder in New York City or a first responder in Russellville, what they do is important to us all.”
