WARSAW — The rain held off during the county’s 9/11 memorial remembrance ceremony at Center Lake Park, Warsaw. Some stood throughout the entire ceremony, others utilized the bleachers and chairs provided or sat on the ground or chairs they had brought along.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy James Smith, an Army veteran and Sgt. First Class Dan Murphy with the Army National Guard, Warsaw, were keynote speakers.

Smith shared how 9/11 affected his life — before, during and after. He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 2000, assigned to the 542nd trans, a transportation company in Kingsbury. Remembering as if it was yesterday, Smith recounted what occurred in his life on Sept. 9, 2001. “It was without a doubt the biggest thing going on. The things we used to think mattered, small things, were pushed aside.”

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputy James Smith, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, was one of the guest speakers.

“I will always remember President Bush’s address when he declared war on terrorists. That’s something that will be with me for the rest of my life,” said Smith. He recapped receiving his notice of deployment and the emotions. Emotions of fear, anxiousness, concern and the fear of the unknown. “But the one emotion that sticks up the most, was guilt,” said Smith. His first born child was three weeks away from being born. “I knew I was going to miss the better part of the first year of his life.”

He shared how he questioned why he was in Kuwait, of being selfish how the war was affecting him and his family. “Then I’d remind myself about the tragic of 9/11 and the whole reason why I was there … innocent victims lives forever changed and the actual attack on the United States. This was my motivation … I was able to put my feelings aside … As time went on I became more and more proud of what I was doing for my county…

“It was because of 9/11 I wanted a law enforcement career, more now than ever, to continue serving my country and my community. I always wanted it before, but my eagerness and desire was heightened by 9/11.”

“Any person involved in military, police, fire, dispatching, these are not jobs, these are careers, lifestyles. It becomes who you are, what you are, what you believe …”

Smith left every one with a challenge: “If you see a service man past or present, or first responder or dispatcher, tell them thank you for their service. Often times we feel we are doing a thankless job. With one person telling us thank you. It goes a long way.”

Sgt. First Class Dan Murphy, National Guard was a guest speaker.

“Sept. 11 was a normal day for American citizens. Many were starting their normal daily routine. A short time later millions of lives were changed forever,” stated Murphy. “The 14th year anniversary of 9/11 is an occasion to honor the victims of those attacks, keep the faith with their families, express our gratitude to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and the like who have been at war since then.”

He encouraged people to reflect on sacrifices citizens and soldiers, who have fallen in service to the country, how their debt “has ever impacted their families … let us dedicate ourselves to never forget their sacrifices … helping families to ease their loss, visiting grave sites, flying the American Flags, dedicating memorials in our communities …”

Murphy  noted hundreds of service members have returned home, hundreds have not. “Some of those local hero unfortunately never came home: Lance Cpl. Fribley, Sgt. Major McLaughlin, Major Fiscus, Staff Sgt. Snyder ..”

“Let us make this day 9/11, every day by never failing to honor the men and women who gave their all, their courage in face of certain death will shine like a beacon for future generations … To Armed forces, firefighters, policemen, all other first responders and veterans in the crowd today, I say thank you for your continued service and bravery. You are the backbone of this great nation.”

In his closing comments, Mike Cox, co-chairman of the Kosciusko County Remembrance Committee, stated “Understand we are not here to ‘celebrate’ what happened on Sept. 11, 2001. We are here to commemorate the lives lost and the terrible damage done on that day and support the survivors and their families…”

He referred to Pearl Harbor and the defeat of aggressors, the help to rebuild vanquished nations. But he noted today there are those who want people to believe the U.S. was the aggressor in World War II, the attempts to rewrite history portraying the U.S. as the bad guy. “If history books don’t properly represent the history of the United States, the youth of today will only know what they are taught, either in schools or by their parents.

Mike Cox, committee co-chairman

“… will future generations who didn’t experience 9/11, have the same desire to defend this country, if they are taught to believe that it is an aggressor in world affairs?”

The county remembrance committee is “dedicated to remind everyone that the United States was violently attacked on Sept. 11, 2001 … The leader of Isis has said that he will ‘see you in New York.’ These are not idle threats by people who lack the will and means to do what they say. The threats faced by the United States involve us all and, more than ever before, we must all be alert and vigilant … as citizens, we must fight the apathy that is becoming apparent, or we will allow those threats to come to pass. We must never forget Sept. 11, 2001.”

The evening closed with emergency lights on all emergency vehicles present being turned on, while Ken Locke, recalled recently getting stopped on his way to Chicago.

He admitted he started saying unkind things about the police officer. “All of a sudden my wife said ‘I think you should pray for him’… I have kept my warning next to my chair all week. I’ve been praying for him … I give you an assignment. If you know an officer, put their name next to your chair and pray for them. If you know a firefighter, put their name next to your chair and pray for them. If you know an EMS person … pray for these men and women … I thought about it as I was driving away, that young man is there to protect me … the one he pulls over the next time could be one of the most dangerous stops he ever has to make.”

The evening wasn’t all speeches. The Lake Area Band provided pre-ceremony music playing such arrangements as “Semper Fidelis March,” “Americans We,” “American Pageant,” and during the service the popular “Armed Forces Salute.”

Twice the crowd heard the voice of Warsaw Police Officer Brad Keller as he brought tears to eyes of some as he sang “Have You Forgotten?” and “God Bless The USA.”

Throughout the entire ceremony members of the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders stood holding American Flags and the Indiana Guard Reserve, which included a member from the Virginia Defense Force, stood at attention next to the monument, after posting the colors. Warsaw High School Select Choir and Boy Scout Troop 715 also participated with the singing of the National Anthem and leading in the pledge of allegiance.