9/11 Remembrance is Wednesday Night in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo

Wednesday marks 18 years since terrorist attacks changed us forever.  Battle Creek’s Yellow Ribbon committee will mark the occasion once again this year, with a remembrance ceremony at McCamly Park.

Keynote speaker will be Brig. Gen. Robert Secrist, U.S. Army (Ret.).   General Secrist was a guest on the WBCK Morning Show with Tim Collins.   “I’ll be talking about what changes this has made to America, 9/11.  The pain experienced by those family members whose loved ones died in 9/11.     The pain experienced by all the warriors that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq following 9/11 and the sacrifices they have made on American society.”

Gen. Secrist said this is the longest war in American history, and we have not solved it in 18 years.  “We’ve had almost 3 million American soldiers serve in Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11.  Some have served on 6 or 8 deployments.  We’re going to talk about the first responders, and how they are available all the time at a moment’s notice to help Americans, just as they were on 9/11 when the towers fell.”

General Secrist agrees that Americans were much more unified in the wake of the attacks of that day.  “Americans today are tribal people and people with one set of beliefs won’t talk to people with another set of beliefs, and we’re supposed to be the United States of America.

• What: Battle Creek’s 9/11 Remembrance
• Where: McCamly Park, corner of Michigan and Washington
• Who: The entire community and many community leaders
• When: Wednesday, September 11^th, 2019    6pm
• Why: (see Gen. Secrist’s remarks above)
• Rain Location:  First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Ave. NE.

About McCamly Park: Located at the northeast corner of North Washington Avenue and West Michigan Avenue, McCamly Park is Battle Creek's veteran's memorial park. It hosts a number of different memorials to veterans of several wars including World War 1, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm.

FREE Coffee For Police, Fire, EMS and Military

Victory Life Church is honoring Police, Fire, EMS and Military by paying for their drinks at Battle Creek/Marshall Biggbys on Sept 11th.

For the tenth year, Victory Life Church is pleased to announce that in honor of September 11 and those that serve our community, we will be buying a drink of choice to those that serve our community in Police, Fire, EMS or Military.  Just go into a Battle Creek or Marshall Biggby Coffee Shop and show proper ID to receive a drink of your choice absolutely free.

Kalamazoo Observance

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 5:30 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION

Due to scheduled construction to upgrade Bronson Park, this year’s service will take place on the grounds of Valley Family Church at 2500 Vincent Avenue in Portage. Please note that this location is off Angling Road, adjacent to the Cathedral, near Oakland Drive and I-94.

Terri DeBoer of Wood TV Channel 8 has graciously accepted the invitation to emcee the program. The featured speaker will be Dr. L. Marshall Washington, President of KVCC. The invocation will be led by Rabbi Harvey Spivak. The one-hour service will include meaningful music by Grace Kalafut, John MacMullen, Carol Zomer, Al Harding, and the Kalamazoo Male Chorus.  Martin Malfroid, Graduate Assistant WMU, will offer TAPS, and the Kalamazoo Pipe Band, under the direction of Greg Huff, will offer Amazing Grace. Rev. Christina Westbury, Associate Pastor of Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church, will lead our closing benediction. Several local firefighter units and members of both the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Kalamazoo County Sheriff Office will solemnly provide poignant ceremonies.

Seating will be provided and in the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to inside the church.

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Place: Valley Family Church, 2500 Vincent Ave, Portage, MI near Oakland Drive and I-94 in Portage