Boy Scouts hold service to inspire service

Many of the Boy Scouts in the Sweetwater District are too young to remember September 11, 2001, but they do remember learning about it in school and were proud to be sponsors of the Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Service taking place at 8 o’clock Sunday morning at the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Gwinnett Justice Center.

“In addition to remembering the tragic events of September 11th, they commemorated the loss of so many lives with a focus on the four victims from Georgia, laude Michael Gann, Maynard S. Spence, Jr., Harshad Sham Thatte, and Major Stephen V. Long,” Event Chairman Donna Kaplan said. “We will also be honoring our local heroes: the EMS, Fire, Police, and Sheriff Departments of Gwinnett and Walton Counties.” 

This was Sweetwater’s second commemorative service and the boys were proud to see how much their movement has grown since last year. Supporters include Red Knights, Philadelphia Winn Chapter of DAR, Woodmen of the World, New Lawrenceville Association, Masonic Lodges of Lawrenceville and Duluth and Georgia National Guard, whose “Band of the South” performed at the event.

“Last year we had a lot of people from our district and I remember how I felt during the moment of silence,” Carl Smith, of Troop 580 said. “This year I am looking forward to hearing the band.”

Kaplan said they hosted a crowd of about 500 people this year. The program included a welcome by Trip Selman BSA NEGA Council Scout Executive, followed by guest speaker Congressman Rob Woodall and keynote speaker, Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson.

“Not only is our focus on remembering those who died and thanking our local heroes, but inspiring patriotism in the community,” Kaplan said. “It’s also about what we do on 9/12.”

“The day after 9/11 we all picked up and built for the future with hope and faith,” Sweetwater District Vice-chairman McK King said. “We want to move beyond 9/11. Our message is if that’s what you dwell on, you’re not going anywhere.”

The 9/12 Project, a national non-partisan volunteer movement, encourages people to reach out community and bring back the spirit of togetherness we felt on 9/12/01.

“You can give blood, adopt a road, volunteer at the library, police station, hospital or coop, or even just properly display and care for the American Flag,” Sweetwater District Chairman William Rambow said. “Service has always been the cornerstone of scouts, and we’d like to invite everyone else in the community to do it with us.”

And we can start tomorrow.

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