Community Commemorates 9/11

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The Sept., 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the nation were commemorated with a ceremony at the Memorial Park of Los Fresnos on the same day of the tragedy.

More than 100 people attended the “Never Forget” ceremony. Among them were city, business and civic leaders and Boy Scouts Troop 61 and

Troop 11 from here and from Brownsville.

The youngsters recited the Pledge of Alliance, sang the National Anthem, passed to each other a folded U.S. flag and placed four wreaths in memory of those who died in the four attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Brownsville resident Carlos Cascos was the keynote speaker, saying he has been at the event when he was Cameron County judge, secretary of state and now as a private citizen (running for county judge again).

He said what happened on Sept. 11, 2001 changed the course of this county’s life but elevated the degree of patriotism and pride of all Americans.

“This is the first time we suffered an attack in the continental United States,” Cascos said, “and this is one of those moments people will never forget no matter what.”

He compared the attacks to the deaths of a loved one, of President J.F. Kennedy and even of Elvis Presley.

Cascos said he appreciates the City of Los Fresnos and the Boy Scouts organizations for continuing to have the tradition of the 9-11 memorial ceremony.

Terence Schraut, the Boy Scouts leader, said they have been having the ceremony for the last 10 years.