Remembrance, peace are themes at local Sept. 11 memorial events

Addressing a crowd of about 50 members of the Marine Corps League, firefighters, police officers and spectators Saturday, Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger reflected on the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"We can all remember where we were and what we were doing on that fateful morning," Rediger said to the group assembled near the replica of the Statue of Liberty at Capaha Park's Freedom Corner. The brief speech was part of the opening ceremony for the Marine Corps League all-day vigil, one of several events commemorating the terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.

The mayor told the group that the attacks "brought a greater feeling of respect and admiration toward our first responders." After acknowledging the presence of area police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel, Rediger said, "All of these dedicated men and women are always with us -- at home, away, wherever we may be. They stand ready 24/7 for the time when any of us are in need."

As part of the opening ceremonies, Marine Corps League commandant Ron Acord asked representatives from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, fire department and American Legion to each lay a memorial at the base of the statue.

When the ceremony concluded, the first of a squad of Marine Corp League members began a guard assignment in front of the statue. Throughout the day until 6 p.m. the guard was changed every half-hour.

One of the spectators at the Freedom Corner gathering was Gail Knaup, who brought 6-year-old daughter Isabel, a first-grader at St. Mary's School. Knaup said she feels it is important for children to be informed about the events of Sept. 11 and their significance.

Rediger also spoke later Saturday morning at the Pray for Peace 9/11 memorial service held at Saint Francis Medical Center's conference center. That event's keynote speaker was Dr. John J. Moll, who talked to a group of about 50 about the meaning and value of peace.

"Our collective notion about what peace is needs to be more comprehensive," said Moll, who served in the U.S. Navy as a surgeon and was deployed at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002. "It is a tragedy that in English the word 'peace' often and most frequently is used to simply denote the absence of conflict. ... A better goal for us rather than simply peace is peace aligned with justice."

Moll said Sept. 11 commemorations shouldn't be just about nursing old wounds.

"I think it should be a reminder of all the things that we learned that day: the viciousness of our enemies, the courage of our fellow citizens, the strength of our institutions, but, most importantly, the tremendous power that we wield because we believe in the justice and the rightness of our nation's fundamental principles."

The day's events concluded as Cape Girardeau County firefighters participated in a Sept. 11 commemoration prior to the truck and tractor pull Saturday evening at the SEMO District Fair.

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