Bluegrass Military Affairs Coalition Online

Our Community Remembers

At 7p Monday, September 11, five years after terrorists hi-jacked jetliners and attacked the United States, and just two weeks after the tragedy of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport, people of Central Kentucky gathered to remember innocent lives lost, to reflect upon these events and to hear words and music of healing and hope.

The site of the service was Immanuel Baptist Church, 3100 Tates Creek Road, Lexington, KY. Featured speakers included: Sherry Williams, president of New Leaf Resources; Immanuel Baptist Church Senior Minister Craig Loscalzo, Ph.D.; and, CDR Paul A. SKARPNESS, USN CO, USS KENTUCKY (SSBN 737) (BLUE CREW).
The following are comments from some of the leaders of business and service organizations that came together to support this community program.

“After a tragedy that affects an entire community, it is incumbent upon businesses, churches and other organizations to join together to conduct multiple community memorial programs to help as many people as possible to mourn and celebrate the lives of those who died,” said Bob Milward, licensed funeral director and owner of Milward Funeral Directors. “These types of community services, in addition to visitations and funerals for the families and friends of individual victims, are very important to help them to celebrate the lives of their loved ones and to cope through the grieving process.”

“This program was our special way to reach out to families we have served, and to all others in the community, to let them know they do not have to suffer emotional pain and travel their grief journey alone,” said Dan Scalf, president and general manager of The Lexington Cemetery. “At the historic community burial grounds, we have provided private and public services to many survivors of the recent plane crash, so we know the importance and meaning of solace and understanding that larger gatherings such as this one have for them and the community at large.”

"As citizens of the United States, we need to gather on 9/11 each year to remember and commemorate the deaths at the hands of terrorists on 9/11/01 and continuing sacrifices of survivors of the victims who lost their lives on that terrible day,” said Tom Baker, Chairman of the Bluegrass Military Affairs Coalition. “We must not forget the passengers and crew members on the hi-jacked jets, civilians in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, fire, police and emergency responders who in the line-of-duty and self-sacrifice were killed by enemies of this great nation. The 9/11 deadly attacks on America caused the civilian elected leadership of this country to go to war. This nation is still at war, so it is appropriate and fitting that citizens in communities across the land gather to pause, reflect and gain perspective from the past five years. This annual 9/11 commemoration is more poignant due to the most recent loss of so many lives due to another tragic jet plane crash, this one in our community. ”

See the Our Community Remembers Photo Album