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COLERAIN – Patriotism ran high here late Wednesday afternoon.

Every chair was filled while others stood on the neatly trimmed grass of Colerain’s town park at the intersection of River Street and Main Street as they paused to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001 that shook our nation to its red, white and blue core.

Colerain citizens and others came out to witness a ceremony staged by Woodmen Life Chapter 328 of Ahoskie that paid tribute to those who tragically lost their lives and the heroes that emerged in the wake of the terrorist attacks on American soil.

The “In Honor and Remembrance Ceremony” included the dedication of a flagpole, standing tall at the center of the park, that was donated by the local Woodmen Life Chapter.

Colerain Mayor Bill Harrell brought greetings on behalf of the town.

“I thank everyone for putting this together, the Civic Club and the things they’re trying to do in our town,” he remarked. “The town doesn’t have a lot of resources, so having people to come together is great. On behalf of the town commissioners, we thank the Civic Club for what they’re doing.”

Prior to delivering the opening prayer, Rev. Gary Saffell, pastor of Colerain Baptist Church, noted that “we live in a broken world.

“We are more politically divided, racially divided, but just like a recipe, if you have all the right ingredients, you have what our flag stands for….one nation under God,” Rev. Saffell said. “The ingredients can be found in Second Chronicles 7:14, ‘If my people will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I’ll hear from Heaven and I’ll heal their land’.”

“Our land needs healing,” Saffell continued. “And the only way we can heal our land is to come together and seek God’s face and pray.”

Eleanor Hollowell, representing Woodmen Life Chapter 328, recognized the various first responders gathered for Wednesday’s event. Those local organizations included Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin and several members of his staff, Colerain and Trap volunteer firefighters, and Bertie County EMS.

She said that Woodmen Life chapters began sponsoring these types of ceremonies in 2002.

“The main thing it honors is our first responders, those that protect us every day,” Hollowell stated. “We can’t thank them enough.”

Hollowell added that since 2002, Woodmen of the World has given and dedicated over 5,000 flagpoles in all 50 states.

“Patriotism is at the very core of Woodmen Life,” she stressed. “We cannot think of a better way than to see our U.S. Flag flying high. Most of the flags you see throughout the Roanoke-Chowan area have been donated by Woodmen Life. Our first responders and any non-profit groups can receive a flag, all you have to do is ask.”

Hollowell remembered the horrors and the loss of life inflicted by foreign terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

“This country saw horrors we didn’t think we’d ever see. Thousands of our citizens and those from other countries lost their lives that day during attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania,” she said. “But at that time, hundreds of heroes materialized also.

“On this anniversary of 9-11, each of us remembers where we were and what we were doing that morning,” Hollowell surmised. “We will always remember. The events of that day changed our lives forever, making us realize that freedom is a very precious thing and not to be taken lightly.”

Hollowell noted that it was fitting to dedicate a new flagpole and flag in Colerain on this particular day.

“Our nation’s flag atop the pole serves as a symbol of the enduring spirit of all Americans,” she said.

Keith Hollowell, president of Woodmen Life Chapter 328, presented an American flag to Colerain Volunteer Fire Department Chief Will Farless and Retired Chief Milton Felton. The flag was then raised on the new pole and immediately lowered to half staff, followed by those assembled reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Sheran White, representing the Colerain Community Civic Club, said the town park where Wednesday’s ceremony was held, is a part of the organization’s ongoing beautification efforts.

“The beautification of this park is one of those projects that has come to fruition through much hard work and the generosity of Woodmen of the World who donated the flagpole, the flag, and some funds to help with this project,” White remarked. “We are so thankful for their generosity and are proud to raise that flag today as we remember the tragic events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.”

White shared a few sad statistics linked to 9-11-01:

2,750 people killed in New York City where two hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center.

184 people died when another hijacked plane crashed into the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, DC.

40 people died where one of the hijacked planes crashed in a rural area of Pennsylvania after some of the passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

More than 400 first responders – heroic police officers and firefighters – were killed as a result of the Twin Towers collapsing.

“A total of over 3,000 people perished on that day, making it the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil,” White noted. “We will never forget the destruction that took place and the look on the faces of the loved ones left behind. Our hearts grieved with them. We became unified as a nation because of that loss and grief.”

Following a moment of silence to reflect on the lives lost on 9-11-01, “Taps” was played, deepening the soulful impact of the event.

Rev. Corey Ballance, pastor of First Baptist Church of Colerain and also a Bertie County Commissioner, closed out the event with prayer.

“We come lifting up the families and friends of those who lost their lives during the tragic terrorist attack,” he prayed. “We thank you God for comforting these families for 23 years. We ask you God to continue to keep them and sustain them and thank you God for the resilience of the survivors. Continue to comfort their minds. As we assemble here around this flagpole, give us the peace and love of understanding and unity.”

At the close of the ceremony, the youth of Colerain Baptist Church served refreshments.