City of Bloomington Commemorates 7th Anniversary of 9/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2008

For more information, please contact:
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov
[The City of Bloomington Honor Guard present the colors to start the event.|image:3671]

Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington today commemorated the tragic events of September 11, 2001, with a ceremony held on Showers Plaza outside City Hall. More than 200 people gathered for the event, which served as a solemn recognition of the commitment made by fire and police officers, both in Bloomington and around the nation, to protect the public's safety.

Mayor Mark Kruzan said that the events of seven years ago have changed the public perception of service officers.

"There is no doubt the events of that morning changed the way we value our freedom and how we appreciate those incredibly dedicated, committed individuals who put their lives on the line every single day in our communities - protecting us, responding to our emergencies and serving the public without fail," Kruzan said.

Following the presentation of the colors and an invocation by Chaplain Harold Godsey, State and City officials spoke to the significance of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to the country and the community. In addition to Kruzan, speakers included Jim Parrott, President, Professional Firefighters Union Local 586; City of Bloomington Police Department Chief Michael Diekhoff; City of Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) Chief Roger Kerr; State Representative Peggy Welch and State Senator Vi Simpson.

City of Bloomington firefighter Maureen Nichols presented the City with a flag flown in Iraq during her tour of duty as a member of the United States Armed Services, a request she made in salute of the community. The ceremony concluded with words from Captain Ron Bateman of the BFD, whose remarks were followed by a bell-ringing ceremony, a rifle salute by the Monroe County Veterans Honor Guard, and the playing of Taps and Amazing Grace on bagpipes by BFD Battalion Chief of Training Rob Stumpf.

One of the important lessons from 9/11 for us here in Bloomington is that no agency or department can handle everything on their own," said Kerr. "We have to train each other and depend upon each other for support."

[Click here|http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=3228;] to see more pictures of the event.
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