Keep Rexburg Real: Day 3: Study and 9/11

Study created
New pathways in my mind. It
hurt me my first time.

As I went out on bike for a small hiatus from my studies, I went around town to see what I could see. I heard that there was to be some largely conspicuous bike ride just waiting to photographed. What I found was an event of much more significance and reflection.

Chief Corey Child

Today, the Sept. 11, 2010, Rexburg/ Maddison Fire Department and the citizens of Rexburg and surrounding towns remembered the sad events of the Sept. 11 nine years ago, and the related death of town hero, Brady Howell. The memorial service commenced at 6:00 pm and continued untill before sunset. The Keynote address was given by Fire Commissioner who brought the minds of the audience back to the words of Jesus Christ: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)." This love and willingness was easily seen in the eyes and the attitudes of the service men present. Following his remarks Firefighters Ellis Johnston and Brandon Pope unveiled the new Firefighter Memorial which proved to be deep in symboism: the MFD Crest signifyies the departments core values of Integrity, Honor, Pride, and Courage sits at the top, the bell at its side symbolizies years gone by and years to come, the two "I" beams at its flanks representes the Twin Tower Tragedy (send picture at end of article). Johnston then preceded to ring the bell four times, the last ringing into a minute of silence and tears of remembrance.

I stepped quickly to the left side of the bleachers as the great American flag billowed in the wind above me, bolstered on one end to a fire truck's ladder and on the other to a long construction arm. My camera clicked and beeped as I caught these moments and their spirit inside my small box. I felt as if I were being disruptive, but still my feelings that these scenes should be well preserved and shared won over. The Bell's last ring still floated on the air; the words on its plaque beneath it reading "the Bell Rang and so We Came." Gradualy, bag pipes started to play from some hidden spot. Their location was slowly made know, as the men, the firefighters, in their traditional Scottish garb stepped up on the ridge of the fire department wall. The sun shown down, adding a shine to their impressive display and instruments, warming the cold half mast flag.

The brother of Brady Howell, deceased,
receiving the flag in his honor.

Perhaps the most memorable part of the ceremonies was what followed. The flag was lowered as the pipes continued to play; it was the folded and presented to the brother of Brady Howell and his family in respect of the service he had given to his country. Chief Child then offered the closing remarks: "Patriot defined means one who loves his country," he said. He then invited the townspeople to consider the men and women of the MFD patriotic. When asked later what would be the one thing that he would hope that the people would leave with, Child responded by voicing his desire that they would also be more patriotic, that they might be patriots themselves, that they might truly love their country.

I ate the cake. I did not come for the cake, but it was served and I accepted. Why turn down the service? It would be a terrible place to live in where nobody accepted another's service. This does not mean much to me, I thought, as I watched fellow photographers snap pictures of family and friends, and servicemen. The flag, the uniforms, the hats, the sad eyes and the bag pipe music. It was certainly a magnificent and wondrous display, but still, for me, a young photographer, it seemed disappointingly hollow. I was just a small when the buildings fell. I wish I had a reason to cry when I saw the flag at half mast, or at least to smile in remembrance. I know what the flag stands means for, but do I really know what it represents? The country behind it? The souls that gave themselves for it? The smalls towns and the big towns that help make up those fifty stars. The Constitution and the Federalist Papers, I fear, are just words that I hear and do not feel. I want to feel them. I want patriotism to be in my heart, along with God. If giving up ones life for the life of his friends is the greatest love, where does that put a man who gives up his life for his own country? I will better understand these things when I leave Rexburg next December. I will take them in my heart.

These were the thoughts that stepped through my mind as I ate my cake. The plate and fork were not recycled.