EUGENE / SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- On the tenth anniversary of September 11th, hundreds of people are making their efforts with ceremonies across Western Oregon and Eugene / Springfield honoring lives lost, patriotism and the nation's first responders. In Springfield on Sunday, it was a special 9/11 tribute taking place for the first time at the local VFW to honor local firefighters, paramedics and police officers.
The ceremony was held at the VFW Post 3965 on Main Street in Springfield. After lining the parking lot with flags, local veterans saluted representatives of Springfield's Police and Fire Departments.
After lowering a flag to half staff and playing “TAPS” on a bugle, veterans presented two certificates of appreciation and 9-11 medallions to the first responder participants.
“Well, I hope people remember these are dedication people. They didn't take the job just to have a job,” says Ronald Havener, Post Commander for VFW Post 3965.
“We know it's our job and we try to do the best we can. It's an honor to get the recognition we get,” says Captain Scott Sweeney of Springfield Fire & Life Safety.
Eugene Fire also held a ceremony early Sunday morning in commemoration of 9-11. Springfield Fire additionally hung American flags from the back of all of its trucks on Sunday.
In Eugene at Valley River Center, hundreds of community members gathered for a commemorative first of its kind 9-11 ceremony in the mall's center court.
Underneath an enormous American flag, a Boy Scout troop from Pleasant Hill presided as a color guard, while members of the Greater Eugene Chorus sang. Each choral member wore a locket with the name of a victim on 9-11.
“So I myself am honoring this person -- her name is Kathryn Novack. That really made it personal to me,” said Katie Kileen, Music Director of the Greater Eugene Chorus.
The group decided to put on the concert as a way to promote patriotic songs under the name of the “One Voice Community Chorus.” The group did it, noticing that today many kids aren't taught the same songs they were, including “God Bless America” and more.
The group hopes to do more patriotic song performances in the near future. For more on the group, click the following link: http://www.greatereugenechorus.org/gpage3.html/.
