A time for unity, fun and reflection
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 14, 2016 11:57 AM
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Courtney Hope, 9, center, and her nieces, Elizabeth Willard, 6, left, and Sarah Jones, 4, enjoy some of the free food during the Unity organization's Sunday in the Park. The annual community event also paid tribute to 9/11.
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Children and adults wait for a ride on the Sudan Shriners Choo Choo.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Mount Olive Middle School students, from left, Breanna Bryant, Sarah Sutton, Riley Davis, Taniyah Moore and Medjina Jones sing with the school's Voices of Distinction.
MOUNT OLIVE -- The Unity organization's ninth annual Sunday in the Park community celebration took on added significance this year as those on hand for the festivities also took time to remember 9/11.
Hundreds crowded into Westbrook Park from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday for free food, entertainment, activities for children and adults including the Sudan Shriners Choo Choo.
But before delving into the fun, participants were more subdued as an honor guard from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base presented the colors while the national anthem was performed.
Balloons were passed out for a balloon release in memory of 9/11.
"We just thank God for seeing you all here to embrace us, that we are coming together to try to do things in the community," said Vicky Darden, one of the event organizers. "We would just like to thank you. You all have fun.
"We are going to have food, and we just want you all to sit back and take the ride."
Mayor Ray McDonald Sr. reminded the crowd of what happened 15 years ago on another Sept. 11.
"Have you ever thought about where you were when that happened?" he said. "I was coming back from North Duplin School. I had the radio on, and they broke in and said that the first trade tower, and they it was an accident at first -- somebody had had a heart attack or something and hit the trade tower.
"They came back on and said no, it was a commercial airliner. I knew at the time that they announced that that we were under attack. I think everybody did. Shortly after that they announced that another plane had hit the No. 2 tower."
It was a "dark day" for everyone, he said.
"We will never forget that day," McDonald said. "So at this time I would just like to have a moment of silence in honor of those who died and also for those later on went to war with those people who committed this crime against our country. Let's have a minute of silent prayer.
"Looking back that day this country came together -- one nation under God," McDonald said. "We went to war, and we are still fighting that war today. But there is one thing that terrorists did not accomplish -- that was tearing America apart.
"That is what they were after. But what happened is the country came together. We are a better nation today because of that."
The dictators of other countries don't want the U.S. to be free, he said.
Police Chief Tommy Brown said the country should never forget the sacrifices of the 9/11 victims and the first responders who were there who went into harm's way to try to save people.
In some cases they died, he said.
"We also need to remember the first responders on today, not just the one on 9/11, but who are still active today -- our firefighters, our EMS workers, paramedics and law enforcement," he said. "We need to remember that we have law enforcement officers who are not scared. When the shots are fired they run toward it, not away to save people.
"We have firefighters that go into those burning houses that try to save family members that are in there, or loved ones, or try to put that fire out to keep it from catching the house next door on fire."
The public also needs to remember the paramedic or rescue worker in the back of the ambulance working tirelessly to try to save a life, he said.
Ebony Teachey of Dudley was at the event with her 3-year-old daughter Isabella who was clutching a balloon.
"We found out about it from my sister (Sarah Sutton) who is singing with the (Mount Olive Middle School) Voices of Distinction right now," Mrs. Teachey said. "I think it is a good thing to get the community together for 9/11. This is my first time.
"They have a lot of things and a larger turnout than I thought they would have."
Mrs. Teachey said she was in the Brogden Middle School library on 9/11.
"It took a little while for me to realize what exactly was going on and the detriment of what was going on."