Photos and Article by Mary Alice Murphy
Jim and Connie Zawacki want to make sure that residents of Silver City do not forget the tragedies o Sept. 11, 2001. Thirteen years later, they continue to put flags along the pathways of Gough Park, rent a television to do a loop of 150 slides that depict the planes hitting the Twin Towers, the plane hitting the Pentagon, and the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Not only the events of the day are shown, but so, too, are photos of funerals of victims and first responders who lost their lives trying to save others.
The event, which was held Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, also honors today's first responders, with the Silver City Fire Department Honor Guard posting the colors. People come to visit the park, see newspapers about the day the U.S. was attacked, visit the boards with names of those who perished. Visitors also commiserate with friends who may have been directly impacted by the happenings of that day 13 years ago.
9-11-2014 Remembrance
9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Capt. Gabriel Gutierrez, Capt. Horton and Lt. Aric Ray are at the head of the Silver City Fire Department Honor Guard.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Gutierrez, Ray and Horton stand at attention
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Firefighter Ryan Allen carries the New Mexico flag; Firefighter Anthony Murrillo carries the U.S. flag, driver/operator Eugene Rodriguez carries the pike pole; and driver/operator Paul Ortiz carries the axe as the honor guard prepares to post the colors.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
The honor guard members, and those in the audience, as well as those in and around the gazebo say the pldge of allegiance.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
The honor guard prepares to recess. They returned at 7 p.m. to retire the colors.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
American Legion Post 18 chaplain James Knight Jr, gives the invocation.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Silver City Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Fell and his son, Koda, take part in the ceremony.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Sandy and Marshall Moore chat with Sheriff Raul Villanueva.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Larverne Marillano and Juanita Arellano promote this Saturday's James H. Pirtle Walk for the Heroes, which begins in Hurley at 8 a.m.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Fell and Undersheriff Kevin Flamm point out the name of a firefighter who fell on 9/11
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Staff Sgt. Urbano Villagran said the image of the toweralways impacts him.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
Linda and Harry Pecotte chat with remembrance organizer Connie Zawacki, who along with her husband, JIm, plans the annual event.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
The American flag is held in place inside a rolled up fire hose.
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9-11-2014 Patriots Day and Remembrance
The New Mexico flag stands in a rolled up firehose.
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