9/11, Cross Observances Held Sunday

(A BEAUTIFUL DAY WAS VISITED ON THE EFFINGHAM AREA ON 9/11. HUNDREDS GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CROSS AT THE CROSSROADS)

It was a day to remember, and a day to celebrate, Sunday in the Effingham area.

There was plenty of remembering, with ceremonies at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital and at Beecher City Junior-Senior High School to mark the 15th anniversary of the attacks on America in 2001. WATCH FOR VIDEO ON THE STAIR CLIMB HERE ON THE WEBSITE.

(EFFINGHAM FIRE CHIEF JOE HOLOMY SHARES ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE 9-11)

However, there was plenty of celebrating as Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of the dedication of the Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham.

(THOSE GATHERED FOR SUNDAY MORNING'S STAIR CLIMB AT HSHS ST. ANTHONY'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL)

The ceremony at the hospital led into the third annual Stair Climb to remember the emergency service providers who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks. Participants went up and down the hospital stairwell equal to the 110 flights of stairs the crews had to traverse in the World Trade Center. A bell service led by Effingham Fire Department Second Assistant Chief Jim Wolters was a part of the ceremony and guest speakers included Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy and Hospital President and CEO Theresa Rutherford.

(THE MABAS 54 COLOR GUARD ARRIVES FOR THE STAIR CLIMB CEREMONY)

The stair climb and ceremony was again coordinated by local firefighter and paramedic Jerrod Estes and Shumway Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Johnathon Paholke.

(READY FOR THE BELL SERVICE AT THE HOSPITAL)

The celebration at the Cross featured a prayer time led by Rev. Roger Marshall, a balloon release, music and testimony from Scott Wattles, and refreshments courtesy of Martin's IGA and Culver's Frozen Custard and Butterburgers. There were gifts compliments of the Cross Foundation, and plans announced for improvements to the Cross campus, including life-sized statues depicting various aspects of Jesus' life, a walking path and a band shell.

(TRI COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CHIEF DOUG RAY WELCOMES THOSE GATHERED AT BEECHER CITY JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL)

The observance at Beecher City Junior-Senior High School is organized each five years by Tri-County Fire Protection District Chief Doug Ray. Guest speakers included Holomy, as well as Congressman John Shimkus and Dr. Nash Naam. The FACE Orchestra provided instrumental music appropriate to the occasion and a Bell Service. A piece of steel from the World Trade Center was on display courtesy of the Pana Fire Department.

(CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS SHARED HIS MEMORIES OF 9-11-01 IN WASHINGTON)

Holomy spoke on ways that emergency service agencies have had to change their thinking from locally to globally when trouble comes, Shimkus remembered the day of the attacks as he experienced in Washington, DC, sharing that he had been at a briefing at the Pentagon the morning it was attacked, and Dr. Naam focused on how America is viewed by the world and that there are many in the world who still hate America and our need to maintain vigilence in hopes there will be no more attacks in the future.

(DR. NASH NAAM AT SUNDAY'S CEREMONY IN BEECHER CITY)