By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
The Bossier City community gathered for a remembrance ceremony Friday, Sept. 11, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives.
The ceremony was held at 9 a.m. at Liberty Garden at the Bossier City Municipal Complex. Master of ceremonies Sonja Bailes welcomed attendees before remarks from Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler and Lynn Bryan, executive director of Keep Bossier Beautiful. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson was a surprise guest speaker.
The ceremony included patriotic tributes and a moment of silence at exactly 9:03 a.m. in remembrance of those who died in the attacks. The moment of silence was followed by an invocation from the Rev. Lee Jeter of Good Hope Baptist Church of Bossier City.
Airline High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors. Isabella Almasy, an 11th-grade student at Benton High School and essay contest winner, led the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem.
Delance Small, a fifth-grade student at Bossier Elementary School, presented his winning essay, “What Is a Hero?”
Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael A. Miller served as the keynote speaker. Miller reflected on the lives lost during the attacks and the bravery of first responders, military members, veterans and civilians who responded in the aftermath.
“We must never forget the people we lost and the heroes who stepped forward,” Miller said.
The ceremony concluded with a closing prayer and benediction from the Rev. Justin Haigler, lead pastor of The Simple Church.
The commemoration continued at 10:30 a.m. at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home on Arthur Ray Teague Parkway with the unveiling of a small section of steel from the 52nd floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower.
The steel will remain at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home as a permanent tribute to those who lost their lives during the attacks and to the first responders, military members, veterans and civilians who served in the aftermath.
As part of the 25th anniversary observance, 3,000 flags were placed along POW Drive by graduates of the Bossier City Fire Academy. The flags represented the nearly 3,000 people who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Bryan said the World Trade Center steel serves as a physical reminder of the events and the response that followed.
“This piece of steel represents far more than a piece of a building,” Bryan said. “It is a tangible reminder of the lives lost, the bravery witnessed, and the tremendous spirit of service and unity that emerged in the aftermath of September 11.”
With a brand-new, underlit trophy case to display the steel beam, the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home now provides a permanent location for the tribute and a place where veterans and their families can gather.
The 25th anniversary ceremony gave the community an opportunity to remember those lost on Sept. 11, recognize those who responded and reflect on the lasting impact of the attacks.
Organizers also thanked those who helped make the event possible, including Coca-Cola for providing bottled water.