Bellevue’s Annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, which honors fallen and wounded warriors, members of the military and first responders, will again take place at American Heroes Park at 5:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Kiwanis Club of Bellevue sponsors the ceremony.
American Heroes Park is located on the north side of Mission Ave. across from Haworth Park (just before the toll bridge).
The main part of the ceremony, and the reason we hold the event, is the Roll Call of our Fallen Heroes from Nebraska and Western Iowa with cadets from Bellevue’s Jr ROTC units honoring each fallen warrior with a military salute as members of VFW Post 10785 and the Nebraska and Iowa National Guard read the names, branch of service, and their hometowns. An honor guard of first responders and military leaders will lay a memorial wreath and folded Nebraska and Iowa flags to conclude the ceremony.
It is our commitment that each of their names will always be spoken so that their memory lives in us and challenges us to live our lives to the highest standards.
The ceremony will also feature the world premiere of an instrumental music piece, “Memorial” by SSgt Daniel Thrower of the Heartland of America Band, which will also be providing pre-ceremony music. Also providing patriotic music will be the widely known Sarpy Serenaders.
The Bellevue Volunteer Firefighters organization will present the Ringing of the Four Fives to honor our first responders. VFW Post 10785 will conduct the 13 Folds of the Flag ceremony, honoring the values our nation was founded upon.
Also attending will be the Omaha Chapter of Honor and Remember, a national organization whose goals are to never let the sacrifices of our warriors and first responders drift away into forgotten history.
This ceremony honors the men and women and their families who have courageously fought for our country as well as the lives lost on that tragic day in 2001 and the first responders – firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement -- who protect us every day. We will also be honoring our Wounded Warriors and their families, who struggle daily to live complete and fulfilling lives, despite their challenges.
The primary objective in creating the memorial in 2002 was to create a place for people, especially families of fallen warriors, to come and find a place of solace and a reminder that those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. It also serves as a focal point for teaching others about the values that make America great and that prompt our best to answer the call to service.
For More Information, Contact the project chairs: Bill or Barb O’Donnell, Kiwanis Club of Bellevue at 402-933-0866 (office) or 402-292-3387 (home).