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Posted on 08/18/2006 9:12:01 AM PDT by zook
DEARBORN - Dearborn is one of 39 cities — and the only one in Michigan — hosting a Freedom Walk on Sept. 11 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Dearborn has joined cities nationwide to pay tribute to victims, survivors and their families, as well as past and present military men and women.
Mayor Michael A. Guido met Tuesday afternoon with Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs and the architect of the America Supports You program.
America Supports You is an outreach program launched by the Department of Defense to recognize citizens' support for the nation's U.S. armed services and to communicate that support to military members and their families serving around the world.
The organization contacted cities to make them aware of last year's Freedom Walk and to find out who might be interested in hosting their own. The first ever walk began at the Pentagon and culminated on the National Mall last year. More than 15,000 people participated.
Now Barber and her department are hoping that Freedom Walks are something that will become a national tradition.
"It really is about honoring and remembering the lives that were lost that tragic day," Barber said.
Guido said the Freedom Walk in Dearborn would not only remember those who died Sept. 11, but also pay tribute to fallen troops and military members who have returned safely.
Dearborn's Freedom Walk is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 11 on the campus of Dearborn's Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, which opened just a week after Sept. 11, 2001.
The event will begin by the flagpoles near the reflecting pond where local veterans will raise the American flag. But not just any flag — the flag that flew over Ground Zero following the events of Sept. 11. The flag was presented to the city of Dearborn by the New York City Fire Department in 2002, in appreciation of raising $125,000 for the families of fallen FDNY firefighters.
After a moment of silence, local veterans will lead a walk of remembrance around the walking track circling the reflecting pond to honor members of America's armed forces now serving in harm's way. A group of school children will follow and members of the public will be invited to join the procession.
The walk will end at the flagpoles where local veterans will perform a 21-gun salute and "Taps" will be performed.
Clergy members from several different religions will then offer silent prayers over an urn of ashes from Ground Zero. The urn was also presented to Dearborn in 2002 by FDNY members.
Local veterans will then lower the flag and the U.S. Navy hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," will be played.
Barber said Dearborn's Freedom Walk is unique and that every community is doing something different. She said some Freedom Walks are simply children planning to march during recess on Sept. 11.
For more information on American Supports You and Freedom Walks nationwide, visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Well let's just watch to see who turns out and what they have to say.
That comment goes for the whole state as well.
My guess is that the "citizens" of Dearborn think this is a celebration of 9/11.
Thank you for posting this.
Probably you ought to learn more before you "guess" like this.
Will we see video of the counter-protest?
Anytime!
..or better yet, will they line the sidewalks throwing candy in the air celebrating the 5 yr anniversary of over 3,000 deaths?
/double sarc off/
Since Dearborn is your hometown (I know it well, I'm originally from Detroit) can you tell us the truth about Fordson High School? We are hearing reports from talk radio that prayer time and prayer rooms have been put aside for student use during the school day for Muslim students. We are also hearing that the ACLU in Michigan are terrified to touch this.
Any truth to this?
I live in NJ and my state gets bashed all the time.. AS IT SHOULD! LOL
Gonna walk through any muslim neighborhoods, Mayor Guido?
I didn't think so...
You mean like this?: They're 100% American, and pro-Hezbollah; U.S. scrutiny resented in Dearborn
You got it exactly right, it will be a victory lap for the Republic of Dearbornistan.
(I grew up in St. Clair Shores.)
ditto. Many great people and businesses there. It's just one section that has turned into another country.
I used to teach at Fordson High as a student teacher and as a substitute teacher. This was back in the 70s and 80s, so most of my knowledge today is based on what I hear and read.
I do recall hearing about rooms being set aside where students could engage in silent contemplation, pray, meditate, etc. and they were not just for Muslim students. That being said, I would estimate that FHS is now about 80-90 percent Arabic in its student composition. I don't know the exact teacher composition, but my guess based on what I know about the teaching staff of the Dearborn Public Schools is that "regular" subjects (e.g., not bilingual courses) are mostly taught by non-Arabic, non-Muslim teachers.
The ACLU, of course, would be terrified to touch any issue involving prayer at FHS. But this is no surprise, since the ACLU also keeps its hands off the prayer that goes on inside most urban schools today. As a teacher in Detroit, I regularly heard prayers and hymns going out over our public school's PA system. Every time a student would die, after the Challenger disaster, we heard a prayer or a hymn.
This is one of the ACLU's dark secrets.
...from within... by Islam.
Wake up people. Wake up.
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Are you sure that is not a fake pic?
"My guess is that the "citizens" of Dearborn think this is a celebration of 9/11."
You would be guessing wrong.
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