9/11 Tribute and Memorial Service Coming Up Monday at the LST 393 in Muskegon

It's a day no one who lived through it will ever forget.  An everlasting impression was left on the minds of the world on September 11th 2001 when the World Trade Center was hit by the planes and terrorism made it's way to American shores like never before.  I was in the now long gone radio studios over by the Getty 4 and walked past my office and glanced at the TV to see a tall building on fire.  That was the first fleeting thought.

9/11 Tribute Ride on Facebook

By the end of the day, I was so completely shell shocked by the overwhelming violence and non stop news coverage that even when I tried to cut away from it, I actually turned on Animal Planet to watch some nature shows, I stumbled on a lion going after a zebra...and I even had to turn that off.  I never imagined the size and the scope of a tragedy like that and I didn't imagine either how far it would push all of us here in Muskegon as broadcasters.  It was all hands on deck for weeks waiting for news, network feeds, updates and when that wasn't fast enough, there were times we just held a mic up to the TV to relay the info.  It was truly unprecedented times in my radio career.

As time has gone on, and our society has drifted back away from the resolve and unity we all felt on September 12th 2001, the need to remember has not changed.  We can never forget those who were lost, those who did this to us and those who so very heroically went in to the buildings while everyone else was going out.  We need to remember those too who have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect us and go after those who attacked us.  September 11th is now Patriots Day and the observance this year stretches from Grand Haven to Muskegon this coming Monday.

The ride leaves from American Legion Post 28 at 10:30 and arrives at the Mart Dock and the historic LST 393 at 11:30 with a memorial and observance to follow.  The program concludes at 1:30 Monday afternoon.  This event is open to the public and there is no charge to be a part of the service.  If you are a rider, there will be a couple of stops along the way where you can join the group or you can begin in Grand Haven at the American Legion.  This will be a solemn remembrance and it's also a great way to promote a little community togetherness between all of our Lakeshore communities.

Ike Villapando has been pivotal in organizing this, you may remember, we talked to him early this Spring about the event, and as hard as it is to believe that Summer came and went, he's back to talk about this Monday's service.   Take a listen.

We won't forget, and we can't forget.  We also should do a much better job of letting go of our petty differences and realizing that one America is more important than the "me me me" mentality we see played out so very often now a days.  It's an awful thing that we have to look back to a tragedy with the magnitude of 9/11 to realize that what we have here is a pretty precious thing and that we need to remember those we lost, those who continue to serve and those on the future generations who will hopefully keep this from happening again.  

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