The Mahaska Community Honors and Remembers 9/11 Pt. 2
State Representative Guy Vander Linden speaks at the 9/11 Memorial Service on Sunday afternoon
Oskaloosa, Iowa – In the first part of this story, we included the speech by Attorney Diane Crookham- Johnson as she spoke on 9/11 and Musco, like many of us, looked for a way to help.
This portion contains the speech by State Representative and retired Marine Brigadier General Guy Vander Linden:
“Good afternoon.
All society has set apart time of remembrance to acknowledge particularly unique dates, events or people which have captivated their collective memory.
A human beings memory can console, encourage, inspire, guide and teach valuable lessons throughout life.
However like hindsight, memory can be a most exquisite gift or a haunting shadow of the past. For many, the memory of 9/11 remains a unspeakably painful shroud hanging across the mind. Many still grieve that most brutal violation of our nations boundaries. The catastrophic slaughter of innocent lives and the irretrievable loss of our carefree, seemingly secure lives before 9/11.
Memories of September 11th bore many different images in our mind. Some to poignant to speak of without tears, some to angry to speak of without grinding one’s teeth and many to raw to recall. It’s simply easier to erase them and bury them in the past.
Members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and VFW and DAV were on hand for the service on Sunday
On this 10th Anniversary of September 11th, millions of us are gathering across the nation to recall the mind numbing moment of grim realization that thousands of every day American civilians had suffered execution by the most barbaric enemy attack on American soil in our history.
Today we come together as one American family to remember our fellow citizens who were mercilessly slaughtered in an act of war by a small band of extremist assassins.
We remember the every day working people who were horrifically executed for no other reason for no other reason than to fulfill the blood lust of the terrorist who extinguished those precious lives. We share our remembrance of and profound appreciation for all the ordinary citizens who became extraordinary hero’s in their desperate heart-wrenching determination to save the lives of their fellow citizens.
In our memory we can still recall images of terror stricken stunned expressions mixed with fierce bravery to do what ever it took to help other survive the incomprehensible calamity of 9/11.
We must always remember and be proud of who we are as Americans and who we were as a nation before the barbarians came.
Although they tried to rip the soul from the people of these United States, they have never understood that Americans will always bond together as one nation under God when the unholy horror of an UN-Godly enemy seeks to tear us apart.
Oskaloosa Police Chief John "Jake" McGee stands at parade rest during the service to remember 9/11
We must always remember these three words, United We Stand, because divided we shall surly fall weak if we don’t stand up for each other as members of our national family.
Look around now, remember, despite the deep mortal wounds inflicted upon our people, the strong body of Americans remains standing.
Although thousands of our fellow citizens were inhumanly burned, mutilated, and crushed in mass before our eyes, the American people stood up for all those slain against the savagery of our enemies.
We still remember the defiant courageous voice of Todd Beamers unforgettable charge of “Let’s Roll” as he and his fellow passengers on flight 93 chose to fight and go down in flames rather than allow their aircraft to be used in yet another attack at the heart of Washington DC.
10 years have passed since the blood curdling impact of commercial jets filled with human beings screamed into the Twin Towers and slammed into the side of the Pentagon and left only a smoldering trench in that Pennsylvania field. Despite the horrific memory of gruesome 24/7 live broadcast of the calamity before our dazed eyes 10 years ago, We the People have remained a united nation. We the People of these United States will remember this truth, just as we remembered it on September 11th, 2001. We refuse to fall under the sword of terrorism.
Americans refuse to capitulate the destruction and domination of our lives. We the united people of America are a fiercely defiant people when under enemy attack. We remember our historic roots. We remember how to stand and fight for all that is precious to us, our families, friends and neighbors.
Remember those exceptionally brave self sacrificing fellow citizens who lost their own lives in selfless compassionate acts of heroism in attempting to help rescue their fellow human being.
Local fire departments take their place at the memorial service on Sunday
We remember September 11th unlike any day or nations people have suffered since December 7th, 1941. Many remember that date too when Americans were called to act in response to Japans unprovoked heinous attack on our US Naval Fleet in Pearl Harbor. But unlike that strike against our military, the September 11th terrorists wantonly murdered unarmed helpless civilians.
And so I remind you today on this 10th Anniversary of 9/11, that as the exceptional nation, we must stand as the guardians and defenders of our western civilization against tyrannical rulers and brutal ideologies seeking to ravage our peace and to enslave all who cherish and uphold their God given gift of individual freedom.
America’s two days of infamy, December 7th, 1941 and September 11th, 2001 are seared into our national memory. We celebrate our remarkable abundant blessings of independence unknown to any other nation in history. Although our nation has twice suffered staggering wounds, from lethal surprise attacks, the American people still stand for what is best in the world.
We must never forget that, although the lives of all Americans were uburptly altered by the atrocity that was 9/11, it didn’t destroy us. We Americans must never forget that September day when al-Quidas blood chilling acts of war profoundly changed our lives and our sense of national security. We will never recapture our pre 9/11 carefree way of life, nor can we bring back the lives of those thousands of Americans slaughtered in the unholy name of jihad, but we must remember who we are. Remember to maintain our vigilance. Remember that We The People of the United States have always stood for each other, and above all remember that United We Stand firm against our enemies, that divided we will surly fall.
Firefighters stand at parade rest during the 9/11 Memorial Service Sunday afternoon
God Bless the survivors of that day and the families of those who lost their loved one so tragically. God Bless this exceptional nation and our peoples united spirit.
The Oskaloosa High School Choir sang “Amazing Grace”. After that song, the choir asked that everyone stand and sing with them along with Stefan Barner to sing God Bless America.
Next to speak was Fred Bridges, Sergeant-at-Arms for the American Legion post in Oskaloosa.
“Good afternoon. As fellow veterans, as members of this honor guard representing the American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans have assembled here this afternoon to honor the life and the military service of our departed comrades.
Though men or women who either served or were serving in the armed forces of this great nation and gave their lives on that tragic day 10 years ago.
It was 10 that they joined the ranks of the supreme commander of the universe God almighty, and as they march their footsteps make no sound.
Neither words nor tears will bring back the sound of their voice or the touch of their hand for that has been instilled by our heavenly father. So that just leaves us with the memory of their love for their family, their devotion to God, and their service to their country”.
Bridges then asked the Sergeant to take command as the sound of a 21 gun salute was heard. Each volley was followed by that moment of silence where the only thing you hear is brass hitting the ground, and the bolt being slid into place to fire once again.
Taps was played following the 21 gun salute by C.J. Howard .
Diane Crookham- Johnson spoke in closing remarks. She thanked those that had helped to make the service possible.
Karen Hafner worked many hours helping to organize the event for the Oskaloosa and Mahaska community.
Andy Clark of Barnhouse Publishing who provided the patriotic music that was playing was because of him.
Also, the Oskaloosa High School Student Council who worked to plant the flags on the lawn of Central Park. The Oskaloosa Fire and Police Department worked with them to complete the project.
Also, thanks to Linda Crookham- Hansen for coordinating the event. Diane said she had been working on it for nearly six months.
Diane also thanked all the volunteers who sat vigil on the square around the clock overseeing the flags and the truck that was parked on the square.
Diane then thanked our active military, veterans and first responders; fire, police and ambulance.
The colors were retired and the service came to an end.
But we will never forget.
