Memorial Day Ceremony – May 26, 2025

May 19, 2025May 19, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

On Monday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country.

Our keynote speaker this year is Bob Wallace, who served in Vietnam with a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit (called LERP). After Vietnam, Mr. Wallace spent 33 years with the CIA.

The ceremony will also feature a local Scout Color Guard and patriotic songs performed by professional singers.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to either the library meeting room or the Grange. Limited seating will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

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Veterans Day Ceremony – Monday, November 11, 2024

November 2, 2024November 2, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

November 1, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Monday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. The ceremony will honor all who have served our country in the Armed Forces.

The keynote speaker is author and Detective Taylor Cleveland, who served as the Senior Line Company Corpsman for India Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. He was deployed to the Al-Anbar province of Iraq in 2005 where he was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device, and the Purple Heart. His book, “Mother’s Day: The Courage & Sacrifice of the 3rd Battalion 25th,” was published in 2023, and he is in his 27th year as a Detective for the Conneaut, Ohio, Police Department.

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The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Grange. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Free Flags American photo and picture

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Gazette Leader Coverage of 9/11/24 Remembrance Ceremony

September 22, 2024September 22, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

9/11 ceremony notes impact on Great Falls, resilience of residents

GazetteLeader Sep 13, 2024 11:31 AM

Six residents from community died in 2001 terrorist attacks

Photo 1 / 2 A candlelight vigil was part of the 2024 ceremony in Great Falls marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist events. Great Falls Freedom Memorial

Photo 2 / 2 Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Lou Crenshaw delivered remarks at the 2024 Great Falls ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Great Falls Freedom Memorial

More than 160 members of the Great Falls community and surrounding areas turned out for the annual commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The event and vigil was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” said retired U.S. Navy Adm. Lou Crenshaw, who was in the Pentagon when it was struck by a hijacked airliner.

Others, he noted, were not so fortunate, including six Great Falls residents who were in the hijacked plans that day: Ann Judge, Lisa Rains, George and Diane Simmons, Barbara Olson and U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Richard Gabriel.

“They are all heroes in my book,” Crenshaw said, urging attendees to be prepared for challenges and “develop a mindset to help others by doing things that put other people first.”

“When you see or are involved in the next crisis, or emergency, or difficult situation – turn toward it,” he said. “Because you have discarded the ‘me-too’ attitude, you have the tools to deal with the problem and you remember the footprints left in the sand by Ann, Lisa, George, Diane, Barbara and Richard. That’s the most fitting way to honor them.”

Among those participating in the event were members of Boy Scout Troop 55 (color guard), Erin Gantt (leading the National Anthem) and Jonathan Torres (presenting Taps). Great Falls Freedom Memorial board president Andy Wilson welcomed dignitaries.

https://www.gazetteleader.com/fairfax/news/911-ceremony-notes-impact-on-great-falls-resilience-of-residents-9515987

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9-11 Remembrance Ceremony, September 11, 2024

September 2, 2024September 22, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

August 26, 2024 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Wednesday, September 11, at 7 o’clock p.m., the annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the six residents of Great Falls and all others who lost their lives and suffered in the attacks and the aftermath. The keynote speaker will be Vice Admiral Lou Crenshaw, United States Navy (Retired). A return performance by singer Erin Gantt will feature patriotic songs.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Grange. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Updates to the schedule will be posted at www.gffreedom.org

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Memorial Day Ceremony 2024 recap

July 3, 2024July 6, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

On Monday, May 27, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event featured an invocation by lay minister Bob Newhall, a Boy Scout color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy and Girl Scout Troops. Patriotic songs were led by sisters Lucia and Allithia Aguilar, who are students at Langley High School and Cooper Middle School. “Amazing Grace” was performed on the bagpipes by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg. Andy Wilson, President of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial Board and an Army Ranger veteran, delivered the keynote speech. “Taps” was bugled by student Steve Kramp. Memorial Day poppies were distributed and a wreath-laying for natives of Great Falls killed in battle was conducted. The Freedom Bell donated by David Lucien was rung as names were read.

A video of the event can be found by clicking here or below:

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Veterans Day Ceremony recap

November 13, 2023 Bruce FeinLeave a comment

The annual Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial on November 11, 2023. The event featured a Boy Scout color guard, patriotic songs performed by Great Falls youths Lucia and Allithia Aguilar, Maya Sachdev, and MacPhearson Strassberg, an invocation and benediction by lay pastor Bob Newhall, and a keynote address by Great Falls native Bruce Ellis Fein, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves.

Video of the event can be viewed below or by clicking here. Photos of the event can be seen on our Facebook page by clicking here.

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Veterans Day Ceremony

October 19, 2023November 3, 2023 Bruce FeinLeave a comment

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September 11 Remembrance Ceremony 2023 recap

September 12, 2023September 12, 2023 Bruce FeinLeave a comment

On Monday, September 11, at 7 o’clock p.m., the Great Falls Freedom Memorial honored the six residents of Great Falls and all others who lost their lives and suffered in the attacks and their aftermath at the annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony. The event featured patriotic songs by singer Erin Gantt, a Boy Scout color guard, “Amazing Grace” bagpiped by local student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by Great Falls native Vitale Christy, “Taps” bugled by local student Steven Kramp, and a candlelight vigil.

Photos and video of the event are available at this link:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO_yPtayEMD6YWtnRp-TZ_Cg_xPZSI6SogHF5hcHZBzybAz_4BcA8VgngbHLxqP4g?key=YUhweWZ3SGdrYzFMYzhxUkJia1J5Sk9tYnB2ZHR3

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September 11 Remembrance Ceremony 2023

September 4, 2023September 8, 2023 Bruce FeinLeave a comment

On Monday, September 11, at 7 o’clock p.m., the annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the six residents of Great Falls and all others who lost their lives and suffered in the attacks and their aftermath. The event will feature patriotic songs by guest singer Erin Gantt, a Boy Scout color guard, “Amazing Grace” bagpiped by local student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by Great Falls native Vitale Christy, “Taps,” and a candlelight vigil.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Grange. Limited seating will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

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Memorial Day Ceremony 2023 recap

May 29, 2023June 19, 2023 Bruce FeinLeave a comment

Election Day at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, November 3, 2020 — Great Falls Freedom Memorial

On Monday, May 29, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event featured an invocation by lay minister Bob Newhall, a Boy Scout color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Boy and Girl Scouts, patriotic songs, a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by Historic Congressional Cemetery Director of Public Engagement A.J. Orlikoff, “Taps” bugled by Boy Scout Henry Lin, Memorial Day poppies, and a bell-ringing, name-reading, and wreath-laying for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

A video of the event can be found by clicking here or below:

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