9/11 ceremony: tribute to first-responders, military for service
Local agencies give recognition to their honorees.
Updated
First-responders and community members salute as the colors were retired during a ceremony at the Grant County Courthouse Friday evening on the 25th anniversary of the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Photos by Randy Bracht
EPHRATA — Local tributes were paid Friday for the ongoing service and sacrifices of first-responders, military personnel, their families, along with those who perished in the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“No one will ever forget what happened that day … good and decent people died,” said Jeff Krausse, commander of American Legion Post 28, which hosted the Patriot Day/National Day of Service and Remembrance ceremony yesterday evening at the Grant County Courthouse.
To preserve the freedoms provided in this nation, said Krausse, there is an obligation to “tell future generations the price they paid … secured by the blood and sacrifice of true patriots.”
Krausse, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, and his wife Miki, the local Legion post’s acting chaplain, know first-hand of that sacrifice. Their daughter, Army National Guard Lt. Jaime (Krausse) Campbell, a 1998 Ephrata High School graduate, died in January 2006 while piloting a nighttime helicopter mission with others on board in northwestern Iraq. She was 25. Her memorial service in Ephrata attracted hundreds of mourners from across the state.
On Friday, guest speaker Jason Wilson spoke of first-responders — police, firefighters, paramedics, and others — who sacrificed themselves in efforts to save others when hijacked commercial jetliners crashed into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and a fourth went down in a rural Pennsylvania field when passengers overcame their hijackers, linked to Islamic al-Qaeda members in orchestrated attacks against the U.S.
“Many are still suffering” from the trauma of that day and those who served in support of America’s ensuing “war on terrorism,” said Wilson, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant who experienced multiple deployments in the years following the 9/11 attacks.
“Twenty-five years later, we’re starting to dwindle,” he said, later adding, “Please never forget our first-responders … They are truly our heroes.”
Multiple local agencies celebrated individuals within their organizations for their continued dedication, courage, professionalism and community service.
Presented with “First Responders of the Year” awards were: Gabrielle “Gabby” Etheridge of MACC 911 Communications Center; Emily Grass of the Ephrata Fire Department; Nicholas Weitzel of Grant County Fire District 13; Jake Friesen of Grant County Fire District 7; Nico Diaz of the Ephrata Police Department; Jody Siebert of the Soap Lake Police Department; Jessica Diaz of the Quincy Police Department; Jose Rivera and Harold St. Pierre of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office; and Rachel Coy of Lifeline Ambulance.
Emily Grass (above, center) is accompanied by Ephrata fire chief Jeremy Burns after being recognized as the fire department's "First Responder of the Year." Participating in the presentation were local American Legion commander Jeff Krausse (left) and emcee Heather Wilson (right). Below, pictured during the program's invocation, other award recipients honored for their service included Quincy police officer Jessica Diaz (at far left) and Soap Lake police administrative assistant Jody Siebert (right).
Ephrata Mayor Steve Oliver read a proclamation that said Ephrata residents can “show unity and honor the victims of 9/11 and those who protect us … this commemoration should include the promotion of peace, goodwill, and responsible citizenship; the encouragement of patriotism and love of country ….”
Emcee Heather Wilson also called upon citizens to seek out volunteer opportunities within their communities as a positive tribute and remembrance of the sacrifices of others.
The ceremony included a symbolic bell sounding, “Striking the Four Fives,” by Ephrata fire chief Jeremy Burns, flag presentations by the Civil Air Patrol and Grant County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, a memorial gun salute, and the playing of Taps.
Soap Lake police chief Pat Canady (left) places a flag in tribute during Friday's ceremony; Ephrata police officer Nico Diaz is congratulated for his first-responder recognition by Capt. Troy Froewiss (center); guest speaker Jason Wilson paid special tribute to all those for their service and sacrifices.
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9/11 ceremony: tribute to first-responders, military for service
Local agencies give recognition to their honorees.
EPHRATA — Local tributes were paid Friday for the ongoing service and sacrifices of first-responders, military personnel, their families, along with those who perished in the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“No one will ever forget what happened that day … good and decent people died,” said Jeff Krausse, commander of American Legion Post 28, which hosted the Patriot Day/National Day of Service and Remembrance ceremony yesterday evening at the Grant County Courthouse.
To preserve the freedoms provided in this nation, said Krausse, there is an obligation to “tell future generations the price they paid … secured by the blood and sacrifice of true patriots.”
Krausse, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, and his wife Miki, the local Legion post’s acting chaplain, know first-hand of that sacrifice. Their daughter, Army National Guard Lt. Jaime (Krausse) Campbell, a 1998 Ephrata High School graduate, died in January 2006 while piloting a nighttime helicopter mission with others on board in northwestern Iraq. She was 25. Her memorial service in Ephrata attracted hundreds of mourners from across the state.
On Friday, guest speaker Jason Wilson spoke of first-responders — police, firefighters, paramedics, and others — who sacrificed themselves in efforts to save others when hijacked commercial jetliners crashed into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and a fourth went down in a rural Pennsylvania field when passengers overcame their hijackers, linked to Islamic al-Qaeda members in orchestrated attacks against the U.S.
“Many are still suffering” from the trauma of that day and those who served in support of America’s ensuing “war on terrorism,” said Wilson, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant who experienced multiple deployments in the years following the 9/11 attacks.
“Twenty-five years later, we’re starting to dwindle,” he said, later adding, “Please never forget our first-responders … They are truly our heroes.”
Multiple local agencies celebrated individuals within their organizations for their continued dedication, courage, professionalism and community service.
Presented with “First Responders of the Year” awards were: Gabrielle “Gabby” Etheridge of MACC 911 Communications Center; Emily Grass of the Ephrata Fire Department; Nicholas Weitzel of Grant County Fire District 13; Jake Friesen of Grant County Fire District 7; Nico Diaz of the Ephrata Police Department; Jody Siebert of the Soap Lake Police Department; Jessica Diaz of the Quincy Police Department; Jose Rivera and Harold St. Pierre of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office; and Rachel Coy of Lifeline Ambulance.
Ephrata Mayor Steve Oliver read a proclamation that said Ephrata residents can “show unity and honor the victims of 9/11 and those who protect us … this commemoration should include the promotion of peace, goodwill, and responsible citizenship; the encouragement of patriotism and love of country ….”
Emcee Heather Wilson also called upon citizens to seek out volunteer opportunities within their communities as a positive tribute and remembrance of the sacrifices of others.
The ceremony included a symbolic bell sounding, “Striking the Four Fives,” by Ephrata fire chief Jeremy Burns, flag presentations by the Civil Air Patrol and Grant County Sheriff’s Honor Guard, a memorial gun salute, and the playing of Taps.