Minnesota: Honoring heroes, victims and first responders
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LITTLE CANADA, MINN.
Emergency vehicles filled the parking lot of the North St. Paul Ward, St. Paul Minnesota Stake. Rather than responding to a disaster, however, the ambulance, squad cars, fire trucks, fire simulation trailers, mobile command units and rescue boats were part of an event to instruct citizens about emergencies and pay tribute to first responders.
More than 500 people joined North St. Paul Ward Bishop Patrick F. Thibaudeau, Betty McCollum of the U.S. House of Representatives and Boy Scouts of America Troop 902 to honor first responders, to memorialize victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks and to learn emergency preparedness skills at a free community event Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010.
Ramsey County commissioner, mayors, city council members, fire chiefs, police chiefs and the county sheriff with other first responders were assembled for a 30-minute program featuring presentation of the colors, a high school choir, buglers, military gun salute and military flyover.
It was a truly unique gathering. Officers from many communities wove through the crowds, learning stations lined the grounds, Scouts taught and directed visitors, local, state and U.S. Federal government officials met attendees, and hundreds of community members were inspired by the program and received important training throughout the day.
Boy Scout Troop 902 co-sponsored the event with the North St. Paul Ward. Bishop Thibaudeau presented awards to police and fire departments and other first responders from Little Canada, Roseville, Maplewood, North St. Paul and Ramsey County in a memorial ceremony. U.S. Representative McCollum and Bishop Thibaudeau then presented each city government and chairman of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners with a congressional flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol in recognition of their collective work in protecting and keeping communities safe. Rep. Bev Scalze from the Minnesota House of Representatives joined in the recognitions.
Bishop Thibaudeau, who directed the overall vision of the event, stated, "We wanted to do something that would be a service to the community and bring people together in a unique way uniting Church members with public safety officers and government leaders and our neighbors." The ward geography covers six cities so the vision was to unite all people living in the ward and to bless their lives.
The memorial program began with a rousing bugle call to order by an Eagle Scout and unit bugler, Austin Gardner, with the flag ceremony called by Eagle Scout, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Aaron Thibaudeau. Members of Boy Scout Troop 902 formed a color guard as Roseville American Legion Post 542 and Roseville VFW Post 7555 presented the colors and a C-130 Hercules military plane thundered across the blue sky following to a three-volley rifle salute. The North St. Paul High School choir performed the "Star-spangled Banner." A bugle's "Taps" preceded a moment of silence to honor victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks. The choir then sang "America the Beautiful."
"I usually don't get emotional, but the ceremony brought tears to my eyes as I thought about the people who sacrifice to protect our freedom," said Caroline Moore of Fridley.
"The American Legion brought an emotion and dignity to the ceremony that caused us to reflect on our country and the price of freedom," said Barb Thibaudeau, ceremony organizer.
Bishop Thibaudeau spoke about "our sacred honor," the last phrase of the Declaration of Independence. He said it is important to honor those that have gone before and given much to establish this land and to preserve it under God, and that the Constitution is an inspired document.
Rep. McCollum talked about what it was like as new member of Congress to be at the Capitol during the attacks. She described how the Congress assembled on the stairs of the Capitol, uniting with fellow representatives to sing "God Bless America." Rep. McCollum said, "We wanted to show Americans that their representatives were here for them," united on that unforgettable day, regardless of party, religion or race.
The memorial service was nine years from the attacks. At the conclusion of the 30 minutes all 500-plus people assembled were invited to join the choir in singing "God Bless America." Rep. McCollum said, "The last time I sang this song was nine years ago with the Congress on the steps of the Capitol." It was a poignant moment for all.
"Besides a beautiful ceremony to remember the heroic first responders of nine years ago, and recognition for the first responders who serve today in our police and fire departments and similar roles," said John Nephew, of the Maplewood City Council, who accepted the award on behalf of the city, "the Church parking lot was filled with assorted demonstrations related to public safety."
Children and adults learned valuable skills from these first responders in interactive demonstrations following the memorial, including a mock rescue by ambulance staff, a mock arrest scene, police safety, kitchen fire simulation trailer, fire escape practice from a simulation trailer, fire trucks, Homeland Security infrared camera uses, CPR training, first aid demos, self defense, food storage, water purification, cooking without power, SWAT equipment, Mormon Helping Hands, Emergency Preparedness merit badge requirements, and many free services and giveaways.
There were outdoor Dutch oven cooking stations to demonstrate outdoor survival skills and first aid stations where participants could get blood pressure checks from a registered nurse with equipment provided by the local Red Cross. Pocket-size first aid kits were prepared by ward members and given free to participants and Church food storage and budgeting information was made available.
"The big kitchen fire explosion was my favorite," said 5-year-old, Ryan Moore of Fridley, referring to a simulation trailer provided by the St. Paul Fire Department (operated by Don Smiley fire chief of Little Canada) that demonstrated an actual explosion of a stove top grease fire. He then explained the safety procedures in case of a real kitchen grease fire. He also liked climbing inside the big red fire truck.
Bev Shogren, a volunteer community affairs officer (CAO) with Ramsey County, said it was a great opportunity for kids to learn in a non-traumatic setting what police officers, firefighters and ambulance workers do to protect people. When greeted, she commented about the Church's television ads, saying, "I love those ads."
Annite Thaw, a refugee from Myanmar (formerly Burma), said she felt happy to witness the event. Her daughter and niece enjoyed making friends with McGruff the Crime Dog (in mascot-style costume), trying on SWAT team gear and getting their finger prints taken.
Bishop Thibaudeau said it is important to have events that unite citizens in a common cause with an element of service. "We want to continue our relationships with our government leaders and stay connected to our neighbors and to go about doing good as Jesus did," Bishop Thibaudeau said.
