Special bell rings in memory of those lost on Sept. 11, 2001

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Monett Monthly

An early morning program in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was held on Sept. 11 next to the Freedom Silo, hosted by the Monett Area Chamber of Commerce.

The event had a color guard from the Scott Regional Technology Center and participation by city officials and the Monett Fire and Police Departments. Cheryl Caraway, the executive director of the Monett Chamber, offered welcome comments. The color guard presented the US flag and Sgt. Paul Ferguson sang the National Anthem. The audience of around 50 faced the flags and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mayor Randy Burke, a retired Naval commander, served as one of two speakers. Burke noted occasions such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the landing on the moon immediately bring to mind where a person was at the time. Sept. 11, 2001, was another such event. He noted he lost a schoolmate on the 88th floor of one of the Twin Towers that day, and another friend from the Naval Academy at the Pentagon. 

Recalling how the first responders put themselves in danger trying to help people, like members of the military running toward the guns, Burke observed, “Freedom is not free. This is for all those we lost. This is a day for remembrance and what we stand for.”

Capt. Clell Maples, with the Monett Fire Department, then spoke about the national reaction to the attacks. 

“Many of us are angered, many are saddened, many want revenge, and many want answers,” Maples said. “Three hundred forty-three firefighters and 60 police officers that went there trying to save a life no matter the cost plus the thousands of folks just going to work that day. plus the 40 that decided enough was enough and brought Flight 93 down, perished. The problem is if all of those things were satisfied, they still wouldn’t change what happened that morning.”

Reflecting on divisions in America today, Maples continued the unity of sentiment that followed the attacks was a blessing. “Our country needs this again,” he said, leading into a prayer where he asked “for our nation to get to the point where we can stand hand in hand once again without another tragic event, to remember that if we can stand together in the wake of tragedy we can stand together daily.” 

During Maples’ talk, Assistant Fire Chief Dustin Stellwagen rang a special fire bell three times, then three times more after a pause. This was done three times. The bell came from the funeral team from the Firefighters Funeral Team, rung to denote the conclusion of service. The bell itself stays in a special trailer located in Aurora that travels to burials. 

With that, the service concluded with a moment of silence. 

Both firefighters and police had training scheduled that morning, which pushed the ceremony back to 7:30 a.m., before the sun appeared on a cloudy day, prior to the actual minute when the first plane hit the World Trade Center.