20 Years Later: City of Prattville Remembers Those Lost on 9/11

By Andrew Edwards

Staff Writer

The City of Prattville held their annual 9/11 ceremony at the downtown public safety building to honor and remember the 2,977 lives that were lost in New York City this day, 20 years ago. Of those lost, 343 were members of the fire department and 60 of the police department.

“It just goes to show how valuable our first responders really are. Just imagine, if they had not been there, that number could have been so much larger,” said Mayor Bill Gillespie.

Gillespie, along with other local officials such as Judge Joy Booth, District 7 City Councilor Lora Lee Boone, and Probate Judge Kimberly Kervin, also played a part in the ceremony.

Booth, along with local area children, led the crowd in the reciting of the national anthem, while Kervin gave opening remarks. Boone explained the importance of the Flag of Honor, which stood close to the Prattville Creek in between 2,977 individual flags – each representing a life lost on Sept 11, 2001. The flag had the names of each person who died on that tragic day.

“The flag gives the victim’s family, friends, all of America and even all of the world, a symbol that will forever memorialize all of the men, women and children that lost their lives on that dreadful day. Those who died should never be relegated to just a number. They must always be remembered as individual lives,” Boone said.

Members of the Prattville Police Department, Fire Department and Autauga County Sheriff’s Department also played a role in the ceremony. Police Chief Mark Thompson, Fire Chief Terry Brown and Sheriff Joe Sedinger each received a folded flag from local children.

“Sept 11, 2001 was a devasting terrorist attack for so many. It’s been an enduring historical legacy that’s coupled with shock, sadness, fear, anger, and then patriotism. I’m so glad to be an American, and I think you all are too,” Gillespie said. “Our heart goes out to those who have lost loves ones as a sacrifice to these services. We are the United States of America. And even though we have our current challenges, we will overcome those and remain the United States of America for all.”

PFD Chaplain Kenny Rhodes led the crowd in the invocation. Deputy Chief Josh Bingham held the closing Prayer before the playing of taps.