Patriot Day celebration at Waukon City Park honors area veterans, remembers September 11

by Bob Beach

A large collection of area residents gathered at the Waukon City Park Sunday, September 11 for a Patriot Day celebration held to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people September 11, 2001. Following a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the attacks, several special flags were presented, including a New York City Fire Department flag to the Waukon Area Fire Protection District, a New York City Police flag to the Waukon Police Department, an American flag with the names of all 9/11 victims to the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, and a commemorative 9/11 10th anniversary flag to Waukon City Park for display in the Indian Springs Memory Garden.
Plaques of appreciation were presented to more than 130 area veterans who have returned from service since the September 11 attacks took place, with special recognition given to Jeffery E. Bohr of Ossian, a U.S. Marine who was killed in action in Baghdad. Bohr's father was in attendance to accept his son's honor and shared some thoughts with the crowd. Master Sergeant Kevin Herman, U.S. Army Retired and a 1984 graduate of Waukon High School, helped distribute the plaques and recognize the veterans.
The event was organized by the Patriot Day Committee, including Jerry Halverson, Robert Kolsrud, James Magner, Pastor David Schafer and Sherry Bechtel with the help of many area businesses, organizations and individuals.