By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
Westwood Christian School (WCS) holds a chapel service every Wednesday for their students and anyone that wishes to join. However, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, their service was a little more special than usual. WCS took the time to honor local first responders and law enforcement in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. A total of 2,977 lives were lost on 9/11, not only first responders but the civilians that were unable to escape the tragedy of the day and many more since then. With this year being the 20th anniversary, the students at WCS did not experience the pain or the ramifications of that day. Honoring the first responders and law enforcement gives them an understanding that they knowingly put their lives on the line every day, with a chance they may never return home. It put things in perspective what the families of those lost that day must have felt, knowing their loved ones will never come home. How it must have made America feel, knowing so many Americans lost their heroes that day. From that day forward, America was changed forever.
The service began with the presentation of the Colors by the Suwannee High School NJROTC, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, the Pledge to the Christian flag and the Pledge to the Holy Bible led by Sawyer Broughton. A word of prayer followed, led by Jaden Stewart. Next, WCS student Jordan Martin began with 20 seconds of silence, followed by a message of hope and faith before directing everyone's attention to a video about the cross that stood tall through the tragedy and the rubble. Next, the students presented a replica of the cross found at ground zero to the Suwannee County Fire Department and the City of Live Oak Fire Department. Then, they displayed a presentation of 24 crosses. The crosses held firefighter helmets with the number 124 to represent all 2,977 lives lost on that day. Lives lost included 344 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, the 246 passengers and crew members on board flight number 93, which crashed in Shanksville, Penn., 125 passengers and crew members on board flight number 77 that crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the 2,606 civilians in the World Trade Center in New York City.
These events were followed by a video made by Mrs. Cashmore's ninth-grade class, along with songs by Mrs. Barker's fourth-grade class students, followed by another video in remembrance of 9/11. Then, the WCS worship team sang two songs. The first song was led by fifth-graders LeAnn Dykes and Gatlyn Davis and the second song was directed by WCS teacher Ben Kurz, followed by a message of hope and faith from Carl Thomas.
WCS Jordan Martin then spoke. "Our hearts cry for those lives, but we rejoice in the messages that have been left from our mighty God," Martin said. He closed with a scripture, Romans15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
"To me, terrorists used that day as a symbol to show the world America was not invincible, but America responded by showing how strong we are by coming together and unifying as one and that strength still shows today as we remember that day," stated Martin.
The service concluded with Ben Mowry playing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes, followed by a closing prayer by Mr. Yanossy.
The replica cross was also present at the Suwannee High School Bulldogs football game, on Friday, Sept. 10, at Paul Langford Stadium, along with the 24 crosses representing the lives lost on that fateful day.