Jellico's Third 9/11 Candlelight Memorial
      September 11, 2004

On Sept. 11, 2004 at 8:00 PM (dusk) Jellico held it's third September 11 candlelight memorial service in Veteran's Park. It was a solemn and moving ceremony. There were 20 to 30 people in attandance, young and old, all holding lit candles. We were welcomed by John Clifton, Mayor of Jellico and by Jake Bennett, Tourism Director. The speaker was Rev. Stephen Meeks. His talk was moving and inspiring and is reprinted in it's entirety here: We're Back! Honoring those who have served, sacrificed and suffered for the sake of liberty. by Stephen Meeks Minister for The Jellico Community Church Presented September 11, 2004 Candlelight Vigil at Veteran's Park in Jellico, TN Where were you on September 11, 2001? When the first tower was struck, I was in my office in Elk Valley. Our neighbor's daughter called and asked if we'd heard the bad news? When she told me what had happened I said, "I'll bet it's that Bin Laden guy." Actually, I also had an equally strong feeling it was an accident, but when that second tower was hit, I knew it was intentional. We sat around the TV the rest of the day in disbelief as reports came of an attack on the Pentagon and of another crashed jet in Pennsylvania came. You remember too, how it was and how you felt. As a Nation, we staggered from the blow, but not for long. Quickly, our leaders and citizens shot into action. A list of suspects was drawn up. Bin Laden was among them. Four thousand military and government agents were activated. Our reservists were placed on alert. The Vice President went into secret hiding. The Joint Chiefs met day and night. Military leadership assessed our situation and devised courses of action and even counter courses of action. They produced plans and back up plans and back ups to those. With anticipation the country gathered its self and listened in awe as our government gathered behind the President as he addressed us one evening over television screens. We all waited to hear what "we" would do. We were eager to do something! To sit back and "take it" would have been unacceptable to any of us. It was time for action, both defensive and offensive. Somebody had done this to us: to our people, to our city, to our peace, to our liberty, to our sovereignty, to the United States of America! The President delivered what we were listening for: a firm commitment and promise to hunt down those responsible and punish them appropriately when they were caught. "What ever it takes!" That's what was promised…and it was what we wanted. Retaliation, yes, that was a part of it, but there was a greater and a higher calling to which we were responding-- Liberty! That precious Liberty bought and paid for by the blood of our boys, men, and women over the last 200 years. Freedom was being stolen, but it was not going to happen. With the help of God...it was not going to happen. While our leadership held a calm hand on a cocked trigger, the terrorists were identified. Some, still on US soil, were captured. Fifty billion dollars was enthusiastically allocated for the Nation's defense. Hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts and donations flooded the Red Cross and other relief agencies on behalf of the victims and the city of NY. Without hesitation, everything, anything necessary to defend and protect us and our way of life was available. Petty squabbling over campaign finance reform went silent. Special interest groups moved, embarrassed, to the side. Democrat and Republican lines faded, and for a few weeks we all became simply American. We locked arms, firmed our resolve, and laid out a plan. Our cause was just, our actions warranted. We are a peace loving nation, but when that peace is place in peril, we will rise to defend our liberty. All those in favor of us were asked to stand up and say so. All those in favor of the terrorists were declared our enemies. We offered fair warning. Then, we threw our plans into action. We are glad that appropriate alarms sounded and appropriate leadership, funding and actions were employed. Now, Bin Laden is in hiding and on the run. Al Qeida is broken. Anthrax is back in the lab and the winter Olympics went without a glitch. Campaign Finance passed. The Democrats and Republican are back in there respective corners. Recent reports strongly support that the economy is again gaining grip. High School Seniors boys are more worried about football and cheerleaders than possible military action. The airways are full of jets carrying passengers. T-ball went on this past summer. So did soccer, and baseball, and swimming, and fishing, and vacations, and the Olympics. But for some of you, as good as it is today, life is not what it was on September 10, 2001. Some of you lost friends and family in those attacks of 911. Some of you have lost loved ones in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of you have been in those wars, and you are forever changed. Some of you are soon to go to those places or send someone you love. For all of you, life will not be what it was on September 10, 2001. Let me pause to say a special word to those of you who have given or lost so much. Your sacrifice is noted and appreciated by all of us. We thank you for your service and the price you've paid for our freedom and liberty. Admittedly, some in our great country do not value what they have been given. Please, forgive them. But please accept our thanks and our prayers. We do recognize the price and we thank you, deeply. When the pain of loss pierces a burdened heart, we often wonder where God is. We cry, "Why He hasn't done something? Why is He letting the bad guys get away and the good guys pay the price?" These are fair questions which spring from hearts ripped by grief and pain. Let me here offer some consolation by setting those questions in proper context. There are two things God did not create. God did not create sin or death. There is someone else to blame for those two. Why is there pain? Who is to blame? Our enemy-- the Original Terrorist-- Satan is to blame. So, for every boy or girl that dies in combat; for every Iraqi, or Afganistani, or Russian, or American child who looses a limb, or parent, or their innocent little life….blame the right guy. Blame the inventor of death. Hate him all the more! Work against him with all the power and passion you can muster. He is the author of all our 911 pain. He is the enemy of Liberty, both earthly and eternal. Yes, life in America, is changed. But too, life in America is back! Rebounding. Overcoming the odds. Underdogs. Comeback kids. Heros. Sacrifice. Resilience! These are things we Americans love. They are American virtues. They are American traits. Yes, we were knocked to the canvas, but WE WERE NOT KNOCKED OUT! We were hit, but WE'RE BACK! We're back to playing ball, we're back to work, we're back to shopping, we're back to marrying and rearing our children. We're back to building buildings, planning vacations, dreaming big dreams. Our schools are back in session. The highways are bustling. The malls are full. Families are loving. Government is working. Life in America is changed, but life in America is still better than anywhere else in the world. It is the greatest because it is still free! May God bless all those who have suffered, paid the highest prices, and given their best to keep her, and us, that way. May the light of liberty shine around the world. May it grow in its brightness. May it take hold in Iraq. May God bless America and may God bless each of you for coming out tonight. Back to the Jellico Home Page