Wanda English Burnett
Editor

The tragic loss of thousands of lives on September 11, 2001, touched the lives of every American. But, it impacted a community of firefighters, EMS workers, and police officers even more when their brothers and sisters lost their lives trying to save those who were dying in the towering infernos of the twin towers in New York City.

“We watched our fellow brothers and sisters die,” noted Osgood fireman Kyle Negangard, as he talked about the true impact the events had on emergency personnel across the country. He talked about the brotherhood and sisterhood firemen have.
This Sunday will mark ten years since the tragic events unfolded that had everyone glued to their television sets. Then we did not know the true mark the events would leave on our world or what would unfold thereafter.

September 11 is the day set for the Osgood Volunteer Firemen’s annual pork chop dinner, which is always held the second Sunday of the month of September, according to Negangard. “We didn’t change the day of our dinner, but decided to pay our respects and memorialize those who lost their lives that day ten years ago,” he told the Osgood Journal.

This Sunday the Ripley County Fairgrounds Park in Osgood will be alive with patriotism with plans to have a day of fun and remembrance, according to Negangard. He agreed that Americans are resilient and can have fun and remember at the same time.

The day will begin at 11 a.m. with the famous pork chop dinner served by the Osgood Volunteer Fire Department. Slide shows and videos will be playing throughout the dinner as a reminder and remembrance of the events of 9/11. “We want those who were too young to know why our world is the way it is now. We want them to know,” Negangard noted.

The family fun event will be packed with things for the kids to do. A mini train will be running, along with various inflatables for the children to enjoy.

The focal point of the day will be the memorial service that will take place at the grandstands around 12:30 p.m. The Indiana State Police Honor Guard will present colors with the Osgood American Legion providing a 21-gun salute. Mark Morton of Rising Sun will be playing the bagpipes and the Jac-Cen-Del High School Band will play the Star Spangled Banner and Taps. The Osgood firemen will also participate in the memorial service along with local soldiers. All military are invited to take part in the ceremony.

Special guest speaker, retired Indianapolis firefighter and now Representative Randy Frye will be speaking at the event. “I knew him first as a firefighter,” Negangard told the Osgood Journal.

A fire, police and EMS truck show will take place, along with live bands including Alex Elher and Jessica Strassell. A truck pull correctly titled Freedom Pull 2011 will take place at the fairgrounds, sponsored by the fire department and the F.A.R.M. Club. The Freedom Pull will take place directly after the memorial service at the grandstands.
The popular local band 650north will be performing after the Freedom Pull with the event culminating with patriotic fireworks around 8:45 p.m. According to Negangard, the fireworks display will be similar to the ones sponsored by the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation on the July 4 weekend in Osgood. “They will be very patriotic and something to see,” he noted.

The events of 9/11 have changed our world and now we see and feel more military presence than before. Soldiers from Muscatatuck Urban Training Center (MUTC) will be at the event to interact with the public throughout the day. They will also bring vehicles for display.

The day is set aside to memorialize those who have lost their lives and to never forget what happened. The event is designed for the whole community to come together as they did on that terrible day ten years ago to remember, pray and celebrate the importance of life.

This will be a day like no other - one you won’t want to miss.