Russ Bauer was the keynote speaker at the Patriot Day Ceremony in Warsaw’s Central Park on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Text and Photos
By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “We were all brothers and sisters on Sept. 12, 2001,” said Russ Bauer, recalling the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Bauer, a founding member and current board of directors member of the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, was the keynote speaker at Kosciusko County’s Patriot Day Ceremony. The ceremony was held at the 9/11 Memorial in Warsaw’s Central Park on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Sept. 11 was designated as Patriot Day by Congress just months after terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people, including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement personnel.

Bauer said Warsaw was one of the first communities to present an organized Patriot Day ceremony. He referenced “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning,” a song about 9/11 written by country musician Alan Jackson. Bauer’s met Jackson a couple of times, as his children are friends with Jackson.

“(Jackson) said the lyrics came to him in the middle of the night, shortly after the tragedy,” said Bauer. “He called it a gift from God. Another verse says, ‘Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue?’ Did you? I hope everybody here did. You’re here for a reason and I appreciate that. Did you dust off your flag and put it out on the porch? Did you go buy a new one? I think we all did.”

One aspect Bauer remembered shortly after 9/11 was seeing U.S. flags everywhere. When 9/11 happened, Bauer was driving to Illinois for work when he heard a statement on the radio about a plane hitting a building in New York City.

“I’m a pilot,” said Bauer. “And I thought to myself, ‘How in the world can somebody screw up that bad on a beautiful, sunny day and run into a building that big?'”

He recalled calling his wife, who was watching the incident on television when a second plane hit the second World Trade Center building.

“We both were afraid for our country, our families, and our first responders,” said Bauer.

When he arrived in Illinois for work at a power plant, he saw three bulldozers with their blades lined up next to the fence.

“My friends that I’ve worked with for 20 years were standing on these bulldozers with rifles,” said Bauer. “They were afraid. The governor of Illinois had declared that all power plants, any kind of a military-related complex, had to be shut down and gated and defended. They would not let me in.”

When he returned to Illinois a few days later, he saw hundreds and hundreds of flags.

Johnny Butler speaks while Bauer and members of Boy Scout Troop 715 hold the Honor and Remember and Honor and Sacrifice flags.

“I wish everyone would act like it was Sept. 12 every day,” said Bauer. “We came together as a nation, not only in sadness and in anger, but also in solidarity and pride. I miss Sept. 12, and when I see you folks out here, it feels possible.”

Mike Cox, chairman of the Kosciusko 9/11 Committee, also gave remarks during the event, discussing current events and recognizing the importance of remembering what happened on 9/11.

“In today’s world, there’s wars in the Ukraine, Middle East, constant political rhetoric, highlighted or lowlighted yesterday by the shooting death of Charlie Kirk,” said Cox. “But we’re being asked to remember an event from 24 years ago. Is that asking too much? I personally don’t think so.”

The committee also recognized those from Kosciusko County who have died in the line of duty, including military, firefighting, and law enforcement personnel. Layne Sumner, chaplain for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, Warsaw Police Department, and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, read the names of Kosciusko County’s fallen.

Johnny Butler, a committee member and the commander of the Squadron 49 Sons of the American Legion at Post 49, discussed the history of the Honor and Remember and the Honor and Sacrifice flags.

Local firefighters, police officers, and EMS from around the county attended the ceremony. Patriot Guard Riders provided a flag display. Boy Scout Troop 715 led the Pledge of Allegiance. Bryce Lippe sang the National Anthem and “God Bless the USA.” Ken Locke concluded the ceremony with a prayer.

In 2026, the Kosciusko 9/11 Committee will hold an honor parade on Friday, Sept. 11, to observe the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Dozens of residents attended the ceremony to remember 9/11.