Dahlonega to Observe 9/11 Anniversary

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, the people of Dahlonega will remember and honor the thousands of men and women who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Flags at half mast, a 21 gun salute, speeches, prayers and a candlelight ceremony are part of the ways we are remembering.

Announced 9/11 events in Dahlonega include:
2 p.m. -  Memorial Ceremony in front of the Dahlonega Gold Museum. Hosted by the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office, Lumpkin County Emergency Services, and the 5th Ranger Training Battalion of Camp Frank D. Merrill. Remarks by Lt. Col. Robert O'Brien, Ranger Battalion Commander.

2:30 p.m. - Remembrance of what took place at Ground Zero, 2001. A gathering of Lumpkin County Veterans Advisory Committee, veterans, police, firefighters and family. Bobber's Fish House Restaurant.

7:30 p.m. - Candlelight Ceremony sponsored by North Georgia College and State University at the school's drill field. Col. Michael Pyott, a professor of military science and university graduate, is the featured speaker.  Sergio Colon, brigade commander for the university's Corps of Cadets, will also speak. The service also includes a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and the lighting of candles to honor the victims of 9/11 and the military who have died in the War Against Terrorism.

D&B will be at the candlelight service, praying for those we lost and praying that our nation is spared  more terrorist attacks.

Where Were You When?

During our lives, we experience key moments that will be forever linked in our memory bank. These are times when we  say, "We were....when..." With the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 approaching, our memories of that horrific day come front and center. It is only natural to recall where we were when we first heard the news about the World Trade Center attack.

That said, I've been thinking about where I was on that as well as other key dates in history... dates and places that will never be forgotten.

First plane hits World Trade Center - Sitting in my office, working at my computer, when a co-worker comes in announcing that a plane hit the World Trade Center. My immediate thoughts were terrorism and fear. The fear really hit when my son called minutes later to tell me that his high rise office building in Atlanta was being evacuated and we couldn't locate my sister-in-law who worked for Merrill-Lynch in their World Trade Center location. 

JFK's Assassination - My family had stopped at a gas station on our way to Lexington for Thanksgiving. My eight year-old brother came running out of the store announcing, "Kennedy was shot." Instead of driving on to Kentucky, our family stopped at a nearby motel and spent the rest of the day and night watching news reports.

Russia/Cuba Showdown - Living in Louisiana, outside of Barksdale Air Force Base, the fear of an attack from a Cuban missile was very real. Our school principal played the radio broadcast over the school intercom, so as we sat at our desks, we heard a blow-by-blow account of the Russian ship turning around and ending the Russia/USA stalemate.

Elvis Presley's Death - Lamar and I were shopping in our favorite store - Kmart - when someone in the store shouted, "Elvis is dead." Like so many other patrons in the store, we rushed to the television department to watch the news broadcasts.

Lamar's Proposal - Third date with Lamar, he announces, "You're going to marry me." My response - "You've got to be kidding." Who was I to know that he was a fortune teller?

Hurricane Lee Damage in Pickens County

Today, while traveling along Hwy. 53 just outside of Tate, Ga., D&B came upon evidence that Hurricane Lee done some damage in Pickens, our neighboring county. As we drove by, we saw crews removing large trees from the highway, repairing down power lines and making repairs to the roof of the Georgia Marble Company.

Tree branches and debris covered about a half mile area along Hwy. 53. Obviously heavy winds hit this area or perhaps a tip of the tornado that hit Cherokee dipped down in Pickens too.

The plant wasn't the only structured that was damaged. What was left of a roof on the house next to the plant was covered with a blue tarp and debris filled the yard.

Fortunately the storms of Hurricane Lee spared the Dahlonega and Dawsonville. However, we did receive much needed rain (D&B measured almost 2" at our home)....and the temperatures dropped 30 degrees!