Gazette Leader Coverage of 9/11/24 Remembrance Ceremony

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

GazetteLeader                       

Six residents from community died in 2001 terrorist attacks

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

9-11 Flag at Pentagon

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

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

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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September 11 Remembrance Ceremony 2023 recap

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

9-11 Flag at Pentagon

 

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

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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Memorial Day Ceremony 2023

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 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. The event will feature patriotic songs, a Boy Scout color guard, 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 and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

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 and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

A flyer concerning the event can be found here.

 

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Veterans Day Ceremony 2022 Recap

The 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony honored veterans from Great Falls and all who have served in the Armed Forces. The ceremony featured a presentation of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 55, the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Boy Scouts and Brownie Troop 51156, patriotic songs by the Langley Madrigals, and remarks by retired Army Command Sergeant Major Howard E. “Howie” Urban. Video of the ceremony can be seen below or by clicking here.

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