Only 10 years old, Lillian Murphree had not yet been born when America suffered the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But on Tuesday, she and her fifth-grade classmates from Immanuel Christian School in Columbus proudly led a crowd of about 60 in the Pledge of Allegiance, to honor Lowndes County’s first responders who, like those who raced to a nation’s aid 11 years ago, are often the first in harm’s way.
The First Responders’ Day observance, presented by the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and Shuk-ho-ta Tom-a-ha Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in front of the Lowndes County Courthouse, honored five departments of county responders: Emergency 911, Emergency Management Agency, Lowndes County Road Department, Lowndes County Volunteer Fire Departments, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are here to recognize our first responders for their valiant and ongoing service to aid and protect Lowndes County on a daily basis,” Wilda Thomas, vice regent of the DAR chapter, told the assembled group. “Words cannot express the appreciation and thanks our residents have for these men and women who are our county’s first responders.”
During the 20-minute program, onlookers stood silent and respectful as West Lowndes High School’s Junior ROTC presented the colors and cadet Kiana Staples sang the national anthem. A mid-day breeze stirred the oaks lining Second Avenue North as Immanuel’s fifth-graders sang “God Bless America” to appreciative applause.
District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders and District 2 Supervisor Bill Brigham made brief remarks.
“Sometimes our first responders may go unnoticed; nobody pats them on the back and tells them thank you,” Sanders said. “Not just today, but during the year, pat your deputy sheriff or your volunteer fireman on the back for what they do.”
Shuk-ho-ta Tom-a-ha chapter officer Ina Walters stressed the importance of including youth in such observances.
“We want them to learn how to show appreciation; we want students to recognize the first responders in their lives,” Walters said.
Immanuel School’s involvement in the program inspired elementary teacher Gayla Peal to ask her students, including Murphree, to complete a 9/11 project.
“We each got five pictures or images of 9/11 first responders, firemen, paramedics, policemen. I included a picture of a rescue dog; they were the dogs that found the last human survivors in the Twin Towers,” explained the fifth-grader, who was born to Leigh and Andy Murphree just eight days after the attacks. “I know who first responders are,” she continued. “They help make us safe and save people’s lives.”
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.