Twelve years after the World Trade Center Twin Towers fell, the wounds are still healing for individuals, families, communities and the nation as a whole.
In honor of the those who died along with heroes from that fateful day, Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services is sponsoring a Field of Flags Memorial Display through Friday at The Villages Public Safety Department, 3035 Morse Blvd.
The display features a field of 3,000 American flags, representing those who perished in the terrorist attacks. A Field of Flags remembrance ceremony will be conducted from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday by The Villages Memorial Honor Guard. It will include a 21-gun salute and armed-forces flyover to recognize the deaths in New York City and Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.
"This is the 12th anniversary of this tragedy, and the intent is to honor the memory of the heroes, the victims and their families," said Beverly Brown, community care director at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home. This is the fifth year the display has been erected in Ocala, but the first time at The Villages.
"To provide this healing experience unites communities and gives them a place to come together, to remember and to heal," Brown said. "Sometimes we have a family member place a picture of who they lost near a flag."
The effort includes participation from local Boy Scouts.
Mark DuShane, assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 244 in Lady Lake, found a way to engage his troop and foster their knowledge of the cataclysmic event. A dozen troop members along with members of The Villages Memorial Honor Guard and Lady Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10126 volunteered to put up the flags.
"The Scouts are always very proud to be a part of community activities, and they are especially honored to be a part of this important event," said DuShane, who has led his troop for three years and has been a Scout leader for 12 years.
Along with visiting the Field of Flags, area residents may receive a free 9-11 memorial lapel pin through Wednesday from Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 1511 Buenos Aires Blvd. in The Villages.
Throughout the year, Hiers-Baxley Community Care hosts more than 100 healing workshops, seminars and remembrance events in north Central Florida focused on grief education for the bereaved, caregivers and the others. Events are offered free of charge and are open to anyone regardless of whether or not they were served by Hiers-Baxley.
"All of these programs are very well-attended and enthusiastically received by the community," Brown said.
In honor of the those who died and the heroes from that fateful day, Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services is sponsoring a Field of Flags Memorial Display at The Villages Public Safety Department, 3035 Morse Blvd.