VERDANT BLUFFS, September 11, 2020.
About a month ago, a memorial service was held to commemorate and honor the 2, 977 victims of the four gruesome terrorist attacks that shook the nation to it’s core on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Officials from Government, law enforcement, emergency services and citizens of all walks of life came together and stood in unison to pay respects to those brave men and women who stepped up to face the forces of terror on that tragic day.
Secretary of State Frank Underhill (a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan himself,) opened the event with a powerful address in which he grieved for the victims’ families, honored the fallen and expressed his gratitude to the troops that answered the call of duty in the years after the attacks. He ended with a patriotic message of hope for the future.
“The American Nation stands and will continue to stand for years to come. We must stay true to the spirit of this day by defending all we hold dear; our faith and our beliefs. It is up to us to continue to stand up to evil and strengthen our nation and people. March as one for a greater future where hateful beliefs and ideals cannot prosper.” – Frank Underhill.
Chief of Police Daniel Swenson led all those in attendance in a minute of silence. A beautiful moment that went undisturbed except for the quiet chirping of birds in the surrounding trees on Verdant Hill. Sheriff Serenity Wyatt spoke, addressing the pivotal role of law enforcement on that faithful day and representing the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department. Fire Chief Bradley of the Los Santos Fire Department gave a heart-felt address to emergency services personnel all across the country. The last keynote speaker was Warden Manuel Estrada of the San Andreas Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
In closing, Former Secretary of State Sugely M. E. Cuevas moved the crowd to tears as she sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” our national anthem.
