September 11th was a very special day for me this year. I was able to go to the Dedication of the 9-11 Monument that I spent so much of my time working on as a youth and young adult. They had a wonderful program, and it was great to have Lt. Governor Bell speak, as well as General Tarbett. It was a neat sight to watch the American Legion Post 27 stand by a line of flags during the whole ceremony. The gun salute, and taps being played, and doves being sent into the air were also emotional touches to the program. The part that really got to me was to watch the names be presented of all the Utah Soliders that have died in uniform fighting the war since 9-11. (113 so far...) With a cousin serving in the Marines, it just really hit home.
It was neat to share the morning with my Mom and my kids. This project has meant so much to me. This is me and Boston standing where the monument will stand at the end of next month!
This is a sketch of what it will look like... although it will have a cool statue in the middle of it!
An awesome veteran gave my kids these nice flags. They loved them, and were so proud to wave them.
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The best part of the morning for me was seeing my dear friends who I worked side by side with for so many years on this project. I was able to see a dear friend Brett Lund whom I worked with in Youth of Promise for a few years. Sadly I wasn't able to get a picture before he had to leave.
This is Margaret Walstrom. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were both killed on the 1st flight to hit the World Trade Center. Working with her was a specail opportunity that I will never forget.
This is Margaret Brough, another special lady who I loved working with! She believes in making dreams happen!
This is Karlene Peart. Another awesome lady who I was able to work with! She has the biggest heart, and the greatest desire to help youth!
While we were there, a rainbow appeared in the sky... it was beautiful. It was a special moment. I wish I was better with words, and could describe what this memorial means to me. For years I went to meeting after meeting, I did presentation after presentation, I met with the architects to design, we did program after program trying to raise enough money... after LOTS of red tape, this monument is finally being built. It brings me so much peace to know that all my friends and family who donated time and money to the project are now going to see it finally built. I am especially happy for those families in Utah that lost loved ones that tragic day, to have a special place to remember them, and also for all the military families to have their men and women in uniform remembered too, I love this article written by Brady Howells Brother, (Brady was killed in the Pentagon) which is what inspired this blogs title... Peace. https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/09/latter-day-saint-voices?lang=eng
These are the news stories about the mornings ceremony.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=22100931
http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/09/11/911-memorial-dedicated-kaysville-during-remembrance-service#.UFCou9g54J0.facebook
http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/featured_on/story/Remembering-the-Victims/EAYdNSfqN0-Zz_q15WCU1Q.cspx
1 comment:
this is really great, I'm sure you are all so happy to see this monument be put into place!
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