By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The Moapa Valley Fire District (MVFD), along with all local first responders, held the second annual 9/11 Memorial Walk on Friday evening, Sept. 11.
The event kicked off at 5:00 pm with a Flag Parade, a procession through town of automobiles decorated in patriotic colors. Then the commemorative events ended with a Memorial Walk through downtown Overton.
The Freedom Flyers organization under the direction of Moapa Valley resident John Whisenand organized the Flag Parade. A large group of local participants; with cars decked out in red, white and blue; met up at the Logandale Fire Station #73 just before 5 pm on Friday night. By 5:30 they were on their way.
The procession of about 60 vehicles went north on Lyman Street, hitting Whipple Avenue and headed west to the intersection of Moapa Valley Blvd. From there the parade turned south down Moapa Valley Blvd following it all the way into Overton. The procession ended at the Overton Fire Station #74.
From there, MVFD firefighters, dressed in full gear, led more than 150 people to Overton’s main street directly across from the Moapa Valley Library. Taking the posted flags, the firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and first responders; along with all of the community supporters; began the memorial walk through downtown Overton.
This somber procession took 71 steps for the police lives lost on 9/11. Another eight steps were taken for the EMTs lives lost, 343 steps for firefighters lost, 55 steps for military personnel lost.
After each of these intervals the crowd stopped for 30 seconds of silence.
The total number of steps then taken was 2,977 steps for the total lives that fell victim on the day the world stopped on September 11, 2001.
Leading the procession were the flags for each first responder department and the USA 5’x8’ flag. These included the Police American Blue Stripe Flag, the Firefighter American Red Stripe Flag, the Military American Green Stripe Flag, the EMT Logo Flag, and then followed by multiple American Flags being carried by community supporters and participants.
Nathan Jones of the LVMPD, carried the police flag and explained what the experience meant to him. “This was an honor!” he said. “I am so blessed to represent those of my fellow American brethren who were lost that day. It is my 2nd year carrying the flag and I will do it every year they ask me.”
People lined the streets and downtown sidewalks, waving and saluting or placing hands over their hearts to the emblems and heroes that were before them.
The procession ended back Station #74 where the music video of “God Bless the USA” with Lee Greenwood and the United States Air Force Band was shown on the side of the Overton Fire Station. As the video played, the participants sang out along with the video.
The event ended as many stayed relating their memories of 9/11 and congratulating the first responders on finishing the walk. MVFD Assistant Chief Chance Munford who walked carrying the big American Flag for part of the way talked of the task. “It wasn’t easy!” he said. “I have all of the gear on and I knew I needed to keep a good steady pace or I wouldn’t have finished. However, all of the sweat and energy spent was worth it. It is minimal compared to what the firefighters of 9/11 gave.”
MVFD Fire Chief Steve Neel was pleased with the turnout. “We had so many people here and it does our hearts good to see that,” Neel said.
Event organizer MVFD Captain Blake Empey was also happy about how the event was carried out.
“We had people from the community as well as from Las Vegas, Mesquite and more,” Empey said. “This shows that there still is pride in our country and support for our heroes within the police and first responders. We will keep doing this every year.”
Empey finished with and expression of gratitude for the support given.
“Thank you everyone for coming and supporting us,” he said. “Whether watching or walking. A special thanks to Sugar’s and American Gypsy for providing water stations. This is exactly what this community needed in this harsh time.”
