The Kiwanis Club of Bellevue will again present Bellevue’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 11, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. This is the 15th annual ceremony in Bellevue.
The ceremony will not be at American Heroes Park due to rain-delayed road construction in the park. Instead, we’ll hold the ceremony at the Lied Activities Center, 2700 Arboretum Dr. in Bellevue. The Lied Center is across the street from the Bellevue Public Schools offices at the intersection of Hwy/ 370 and Ft. Crook Rd.
Bellevue’s annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony honors fallen and wounded warriors, first responders, and gold star families. 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 ceremony includes several components: a citizenship ceremony where 41 new Americans will take their oath of citizenship, recognition of our emergency first responders, and a Roll Call of our Fallen Heroes from Nebraska and Western Iowa. The ringing of the Four Fives will honor first responders, while the Thirteen Folds of the Flag honors the patriotic spirit of Americans, young and old.
“The citizenship ceremony really makes a statement,” according to O’Donnell. “The 41 new American citizens will take their oath of citizenship. Their stories are varied, but they all have in common the desire to truly be a part of the greatest nation and greatest land of opportunity on earth. We’re honored to provide such a significant event that they can make their own.”
“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”, according to O’Donnell. “We hope to provide another step in the closure process for families who’ve lost a loved one, but it’s also intended as a re-commitment to the ideals and values that make America a shining beacon of hope in the world. It’s also a place where wounded warriors and their families can hopefully find shared values and kinship with their comrades.”
O’Donnell added that the ceremony’s breadth offers a wonderful educational opportunity for parents and grandparents to teach young people. “I think every parent or grandparent ought to have their whole family at the ceremony – lessons of a lifetime can be taught in one short hour,” he added. For More Information, Contact: Bill or Barb O’Donnell, Kiwanis Club of Bellevue at 402-933-0866 (office) or 402-292-3387 (home).