For the 8th year in a row, our local volunteer fire department was honored on Sunday with an appreciation ceremony and lunch in conjunction with the remembrance of 9-11.

The Italy Fire Department was recognized on Sunday, September 12 with a stirring ceremony at First Baptist Church. The congregation was led by Brother Ronnie Dabney, Fire Department Chaplain, and Fire Chief Don Chambers. Assistant Chief Randy Boyd began the program with a reading of the following moving poem:

MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL
(“I WAS THERE”) by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news
On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’
I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say, Honey, I am not going to make it,
but it is OK…I am ready to go.

I was with his wife when he called
as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words
and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help.
‘I have been knocking on the door
of your heart for 50 years!’ I said.
‘Of course I will show you the way home – only
believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name – though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take
my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were;
there in that explosive moment in time,
would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end.
And I will be there for you as well.

Seek Me now while I maybe found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are ‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

_God

After a standing crowd sang The Star Spangled Banner, four Italy firemen (Eric Bradley, Russell Coers, Josh Droll and Tommy Sutherland) folded the American flag while Chief Chambers explained what each fold meant. “There are 12 folds in the flag and each means something,” Chambers explained.

1. The first fold in our flag is a symbol of life.
2. Next is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
3. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
4. This fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
5. This is a tribute to our country and the loyalty we owe our country in good times and bad.
6. The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with the heart that we pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
7. This fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all of her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
8. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor Mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
9. Womanhood is the next tribute, for it is has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.
10. The tenth fold is a tribut to the father, for he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.
11. In the eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in their eyes the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
12. In the eyes of a Christian citizen, the eleventh fold represent and emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

After the flag is folded completely and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat. This reminds us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today. The colors presented in our great flag also have meaning. The red stands for hardiness and valor. The white symbolizes hope, purity and innocence. The blue stands for reverence to God, loyalty, vigilance, perseverance and justice. Taps was played by IJHS eighth grader, Jacob Witte, to end the flag ceremony.

The special speaker of the day was Ennis Fire Chief David Hopkins, who has served Ennis for the last 23 years. The Chief talked about 9-11 in comparison with Pearl Harbor. Even George W. Bush suggested, “The 9-11 attacks are the ‘Pearl Harbor of the 21st Century’.” Hopkins said, “Evils dwells in the darkness.” He said that both incidents happened early in the morning- starting before 8 am. With many victims in both situations, 2402 deaths in Hawaii and approximately 2974 deaths on 9-11 (the count will never be precisely determined) America still stands tall today with such tragedies in its past. “Sometimes out of evil comes good,” the Ennis Chief stated. The United States banded together and the citizens of this nation will never forget.

Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive, as he is doing now. Genesis 50:20