A large American flag hung from the Gaffney Fire Department ladder truck Sunday afternoon for a September 11 memorial program at Frederick Memorial Gardens. See comments from kindergartners on Page 3. Every year Gaffney Police Chief Rick Turner joins Americans nationwide in remembering a terrible day when nearly 3,000 people lost their lives.

The 10-year-anniversary of the World Trade Center collapse, a plane crash into the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 passengers fought back against hijackers have led many Americans to reflect on how the terrorism acts on Sept. 11, 2001, changed their view on the world.

Turner remembers how the heroism of first responders led to a renewed community support for law enforcement. He remembers how local residents helped with the rescue effort at Ground Zero and showed their compassion in the months following the tragic events.

The 26-year veteran Gaffney police officer sees the Sept. 11 anniversary as part of the continuing efforts by Americans to understand why 2,948 people lost their lives in the national tragedy.

“It’s important for us to remember what happened. We made it through the storm. The grief is still there,” Turner said. “These anniversaries are an important time for us to reflect on our memories of the tragedy and what this all means.”

State Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) asked community members to take the time to remember all the sacrifices families have made in the 10 years since September 11. In a statement Sunday, Peeler said the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington set into motion a chain of events that altered the course of the country.

“We’ll never be the same as a nation, and we should always take time to remember the sacrifices made on that day,” Peeler said. “September 11 made everyday Americans stand up and take action. This bravery started with the actions of the men and women on United Flight 93, who stopped the hijackers from killing any more innocent Americans on the ground. This bravery has continued with our soldiers and law enforcement officers fighting around the world to protect our home.”

Ten years after September 11, Turner still remembers how Cherokee County residents shifted their attention from being stunned over the terrorist attacks to coming together as a community to provide assistance in New York City. Trucks were driven by county residents to deliver supplies for rescue workers involved in the Ground Zero effort while other local residents have continued the county’s long tradition of military service.

“There was a dramatic increase in support for law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders,” Turner said. “This community support is so critical. It’s what gives us the drive and desire to do what we do every day to protect our community.”

Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer Todd Humphries noticed the difference in the country’s attitude towards military service immediately following the September 11 events. He served in the U.S. Army from 1993-1998 and spent 2003 on active duty with the South Carolina National Guard in Iraq.

“The military had really been downsized a lot during the late 1990s,” Humphries said. “When our nation was attacked on September 11, it woke the sleeping giant.”

Humphries has watched the military’s focus change from the role of peacekeepers to counterterrorism efforts like clearing roadside bombs at security checkpoints.

“There were a lot of soldiers who had been off active duty who were called back into service. We still have local residents going back and forth to Iraq and Afghanistan every day. Our mission is to always be ready.”