Roberta (Bert) Malcolm
‘No one can consider himself extraneous or indifferent to the lot of another member of the human family. No one can say that he is not responsible for the well-being of his brother or sister.’ Pope John Paul, II

My words to the gathering are as follows:

I speak for the Sugar Grove Library staff, trustees, Library Friends and Community - thank you for joining us this evening.
Today we commemorate the sixth anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001 and by Presidential Proclamation our flag has flown at half-staff in observance of Patriot Day. Let us please take a quiet moment to reflect and to honor the Americans and others from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks and actions since then. Join me please : I 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.
You have been invited to join us throughout this 24 hours remembrance to read, reflect and resonate with pride in celebration of our American freedoms. Our President, in his proclamation recognizing today said: “The spirit of our people is the source of America’s strength, and 6 years ago, Americans came to the aid of neighbors in need. On Patriot Day, we pray for those who died and for their families. We volunteer to help others and demonstrate the continuing compassion of our citizens. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to laying the foundation of peace with confidence in our mission and our free way of life.”
Our youngsters in uniform are learning that “Character education is about teaching people to make sound moral judgments. At its best, character education is integrated into every aspect of a person’s life – home, school, work and community. Simply put, Character education’s goal as teaching people to “know the good, love the good, and do the good.” (Indicating our local fire and police ) Here are men and women of our community serving as wonderful role models for the the virtues that our community values.
Virtues are necessary for applying the proper set of rules to the circumstances. According to Winston Churchill “Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.” The virtue of Courage is a strength of character, one we learn from our earliest days. It defines who we are by the actions we take and the choices we make. Having courage allows us to continue on a task in the face of our fears. Without courage we are unable to take risks necessary to grow and achieve many of the things we value. Our men and women in uniform are courageous every time they put on their uniform. Not many are as prepared as they are to rush in as others seek relief.
Tonight in recognizing them, we seek to thank those in uniform service to our community and the nation. Thank you.
Our library mission is about providing information and access to that information. These are opportunities that have been called the twin pillars of a democratic government and an informed citizenry. Libraries Remember is about the Public Library being there for the community “keeping our American story, the whole story, the center and the margins, the good and the bad, for it’s a remarkable story.”
Will the color guard please advance to retire the colors. As the flag is lowered and folded Michelle Drawz will read is an explanation on the symbolism behind the folds of the flag

TAPS

followed by closing words of thanks from Fire Chief Marty Kunkel.

Blank posters have been put up on all the Cornish campuses headed by, “We the People,” the first three words of the Constitution’s preamble. These interaction zones are places to discuss and share what the “WE” in this phrase means to us. Draw, write, post photos, and make collages: all forms of creative expression are welcome!

I can’t help but wonder if we in the U.S. are really prepared for peace?

This Tuesday we be joining in with hundreds of libraries around the world in remembering the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This will be the fifth “Libraries Remember September 11, 2001” event at the Sugar Grove Library.

Our local fire department and police department are our biggest supporters in this effort. They come out in full uniform and assist with the flag ceremonies. We have a book and media display of items related to 9/11. Each year the size of this collection has increased.

We invite our community to join us throughout this 24 hours remembrance to read, reflect and resonate with pride in celebration of our American freedoms. Most of the time we just provide library business as usual, with people acknowledging how special it is to have the opportunity to be with us as we all remember.

As I read any article on 9/11 which asks “how much is enough” or isn’t it “time to move on” I feel an even stronger sense of determination to keep on with our Libraries Remember event. September 11 was a defining moment for our nation, the world, and myself.

At this library I feel that we are successful with our event and I believe that it is because we sing with, and to, the choir. Our message remains consistent in providing the community the chance to remember and grow from the act of remembering. So, I feel comfort in thinking that as long as we continue throughout the year to make book displays for the “event of the month” we have the same, if not an even stronger, responsibility to remember September 11, 2001.

It is merely a great bonus that we get to do so for the entire day in the good company of our local heroes, members of our community, and great friends.

Beverly Holmes Hughes
Director
Sugar Grove Public Library

i’m fascinated by the idea of encouraging americans to spend 9-11 thinking about and discussing afghanistan. commemorations are usually focused internally, nationally - what happen when the focus is external and international?