Letter to the Editor

Congregation offers thanks to those in attendance

Sunday, October 4, 2009

To the Editor:

Sept. 11, 2001, our world changed forever.

On that day, enemies of freedom, gutlessly, deliberately and cowardly attacked New York City and the United States.

When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, nearly 3,000 people from more than 90 countries were dead.

Eight years later, on Sept. 13, 2009, members of Bee Ridge Congregational Christian Church hosted a memorial service and dinner for all Clay County Emergency Responders in an effort to remember the lives lost on that fateful day and to remember the families that were affected and unfortunately, are still being affected today.

Several area residents and local businesses came together and made donations and contributions to make this year's memorial service a success. I would like to thank those people for their kindness and thoughtfulness.

They are: French Funeral Home, Goodies Galore, Simply Decadent, Busy Corner Family Restaurant, First Financial Bank, Advanced Auto Parts, Aerial Arts Fireworks, Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Hut, Specialty Lawn Care, Sugar 'N' Spice, Brazilian Lanes, Dave Henry, Mike Clark, Wallace Trash Removal, Lynn's Pharmacy, Clay County Furnace, Marylin Pickett, Iron Shack Crafts and Gifts, Linda Walker, Norma Wells, Paulette Gaskill, Donna Williams, Tony and Linda Weaver, Jared and Kacy Rogers, Mark and Molly Asheman, Trish Braan, Boy Scout Troop 95, Katie Cooksey, Paula Nichols, Pastor Jeff Bridgewater, The Brazil Times and WTWO-TV.

A special thank you to Donna Bridgewater for making a three-hour commute to Lexington, Ky., to get her niece, Elizabeth Maurey, so she could sing our National Anthem. Also a special thank you goes out to our guest speaker, Gerald Scott Flint, for being able and willing to talk about his experience at the Pentagon and World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Finally, a special thank you to all Clay County firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS and military representatives that were in attendance. Make plans now to attend next year's Memorial Service.

God Bless you and may God continue to bless America,

Cody Barnard,

Brazil