Park Cities leaders and first responders honored those who lost their lives 24 years ago in history’s deadliest terrorist attacks with a Thursday morning ceremony in SMU’s Main Quad.
During the annual event, speakers reflected on the sacrifice of first responders and the thousands of innocent lives taken on Sept. 11.
They expressed gratitude for those who put themselves in jeopardy to protect the community, and urged listeners to respond to disagreements with dialog rather than hatred.
“Thank you for your service to your community,” University Park Mayor Pro Tem Mark Aldredge told first responders. “As we move forward, may be carry with us the values of unity, courage and compassion, as we honor the memory of those that we lost.”
SMU President Emeritus R. Gerald Turner expressed concern about the country’s divisive political climate and the aftermath of the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“The whole idea that seems to have emerged is that, if we disagree, then we’ve got to hate the person, rather than they’re just being a competitive point of view. And that worries me,” he said.
Neighborhood Spotlight
Park Cities
Where the Park Cities Stay Connected.
We all have to live together, Turner continued, and the message for young people should be that “America is based upon the search for truth, the search for commonality, community.”
Turner remembered the shock the SMU community was experiencing when it held its first event honoring those who lost their lives in the attacks. That ceremony was held in the same spot as Thursday’s event at noon on Sept. 11, 2001.
Park Cities first responders thanked Turner for his years of leadership and support with a shadow box containing the American flag and the insignias of all their agencies.
Everyone who was old enough remembers where they were on Sept. 11, Highland Park mayor Will C. Beecherl said, and he is grateful for the continued readiness of public safety officers.
The ceremony included a combined honor guard from the Highland Park Department of Public Safety, Highland Park ISD police, University Park Police and Fire Departments, and SMU Police Department.
It concluded with a moment of silence, and the ringing of a bell to represent the end of first responders’ duties.
