Crawford County's Promise - 9-11 Memorial Ceremony

More than 200 attend Memorial Ceremony

Approximately 200 people attended a Memorial Ceremony in recognition of the five year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The ceremony was held at the National Guard Armory, with WPRE/WQPC News Manager Norb Aschom as the Emcee.

The purpose of the ceremony was to:
· Honor the brave men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
· Honor the dedicated men and women who serve our communities in Crawford County everyday -- members of the Fire Departments, First Responders, EMS, and Law Enforcement.
· Honor military, both active and retired.
· Provide an opportunity for area residents to reflect and heal together as community.

Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital and the C.A.R.E. Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) held a memorial ceremony on the one-year anniversary of the tragic event, which was attended by more than 500 community members. As part of the ceremony, the YLC dedicated an engraved bench, paid for by donations from the community. Several of those YLC members, now adults and college students, returned to the community for this ceremony.

Mark Dingbaum, Seneca graduate and YLC alumni spoke about the tragedy five years ago and how the world has changed.

SFC Chad Smethurst of the Wisconsin National Guard spoke about military service, with special attention to the fallen heroes of Wisconsin. Smethurst’s unit served in Iraq from March 2004 to April 2005.

Emergency Government Coordinator Roger Martin read the names of each branch of Military, and each Fire, EMT, and First Responder group in the Crawford County area. Individuals who had served, or are presently serving, were asked to stand as their department was read.

Also part of the program were: Prairie du Chien Senior Bridget Brinkman, who sang the National Anthem; Reverend Lynn Shreck, who offered a prayer; the Prairie du Chien Fire Department, who played the Fire Fighter’s Last Call; and the Crawford County Honor Guard, who presented the colors during the National Anthem and closed the program with Taps.