Lumpkin County Remembers 9/11 20th Anniversary

DAHLONEGA, Ga.- The Lumpkin County Republican Party hosted an event on Saturday in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Speakers at the 9/11 20th anniversary event in Lumpkin included Mayor Sam Norton, Deputy Fire Chief Tony Kent, and Sheriff Stacy Jarrard.

The event was held to remember the lives lost through the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, when 2,977 people lost their lives in the largest terror attack on American soil.

People in and around the community stopped by the event to show their respect and honor the vow America made 20 years ago – to never forget.

Deputy Fire Chief Tony Kent started off the event by reciting the Firefighter’s Prayer to remember our first responders who lost their lives.

There were 412 emergency workers who died as a result of responding to the attack on the Twin Towers.

343 firefighters, 37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, 23 police officers of the New York City Police Department, eight EMT and paramedics, three New York State Court Officers, and one patrolman from the New York Fire Patrol all lost their lives as they made the ultimate sacrifice to serve the American people.

“A beautiful scar was created at 9:02 a.m. Sept. 11, 2001. As our first responders raced toward a burning building to save innocent lives, a scar that will not let us forget was cut across the fabric of our nation,” Mayor Sam Norton said.

Mayor Norton went on to say scars are created for a purpose, and it teaches us to not forget because if we do, another unnecessary scar could be created.

“To those who want to forget, I say suicide terrorists killed at the Twin Towers in 2001, just like suicide terrorists killed our 13 soldiers just a few weeks ago because someone chose to forget a scar, will not go away,” Norton said.

Norton said that although It is painfully how America got this scar, that it too could serve a purpose.

“Maybe the purpose of that attack was to remind us that we are not Asian Americans, or African Americans, or European Americans, or Indian Americans but we are simply Americans,” Norton proclaimed.

Norton finished by challenging our community to remember the scar and said, “if not you, then who [is] willing to pay tribute to those willing to sacrifice it all.”

Sheriff Stacy Jarrard added that as long as we still have the memories of those gone and that day, we will never forget.