ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDNews) – More than 100 community members gathered Wednesday at the Wall of Freedom in ENTERPRISE to mark the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The Patriot Day Memorial ceremony featured solemn reflection, patriotic music, and personal stories of service and sacrifice. The Enterprise High School Choral Department performed the National Anthem, while the Enterprise High School JROTC Wildcat Battalion provided ceremonial honors.
A fire bell rang five times, with the first four chimes marking the hijacked flights and the fifth honoring every life lost and forever changed. Representatives of the Enterprise Police Department and Enterprise Fire Department placed wreaths at the Wall of Heroes, followed by the playing of TAPS.
Jon Marsh, Activities Chair of the John Wiley Brock VFW Post 6683, served as emcee, guiding the ceremony. Pastor John Logston of B.R.A.V.E. delivered an invocation, calling for unity, gratitude, and remembrance.
Mayor William E. Cooper reflected on the courage of first responders, service members, and the resilience of the nation. “Let us never forget what happened on that fateful day and let us always be mindful and grateful for those who chose to serve, whether as first responders here at home or as soldiers protecting freedom abroad,” Cooper said. He also recognized three Enterprise first responders currently deployed with the Alabama National Guard, saying their absence was a living reminder of sacrifice.
Colonel Dennis K. Hill, Commander of the 110th Aviation Brigade at Fort Rucker, recalled the unity that followed 9/11. “What I vividly remember is that our country came together, uniting under the banner of patriotism, freedom and the burning desire to bring justice to those who would encroach on our sovereignty and attempt to control us through terror and fear,” Hill said.
Warrant Officer 1 Claire E. Hopaluk of the 110th Aviation Brigade offered reflections from a younger generation. “We are now transitioning to a time when junior leaders of our nation may not have been born yet or are too young to recall the tragedy of 9/11. But forgetting is not an option. It’s a commitment to oneself,” she said.
The Enterprise Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Service Organizations coordinated the event with support from the City of Enterprise. Families, veterans, students, and first responders stood together in remembrance.
“These gatherings are not only a tribute to those we lost, but also a promise to choose unity over division, honor over indifference, and to carry forward the lessons of courage, service, and togetherness for future generations,” Cooper said.
As the program ended, attendees paused at the Wall of Freedom to reflect quietly, recommitting themselves to service, community, and the promise to never forget.
