First-ever 9/11 Never Forget Bash Saturday

BEAR CREEK     -  First responders from throughout the  state, as well as veterans from all branches of service, will literally take center stage at the first-ever 9-11 Never Forget Bash planned for Saturday, Sept. 7, at Twin Forks Park, located off of Highway 79 in Bear Creek.
“It is going to be in remembrance of all of our veterans who have served in the Iraqi war, all the veterans who have served in wars past.  This is a big thing for our veterans,” emphasized C.J. Turner, president of ARK, which stands for Acts of Random Kindness, a motorcycle association, which is sponsoring the event.
ARK, which began in 2020, is an organization that lends helping hands to those in need.  The group’s motto is: “How do you change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.”
“Go back to helping somebody out of the kindness of your heart, not expecting anything back in return,” Turner pointed out.
ARK will be following their motto by honoring veterans and first responders at the Sept. 7, bash, Turner said.
“When the (Twin) Towers did get hit, the police officers and firefighters were first on the scene,” Turner said, recalling the World Trade Center in New York City being destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. “They were hurrying into a burning building.”
While celebrating the service of first responders, everyone will pause and look back 23 years ago to the ultimate price paid by over 400 first responders when terrorist-hijacked airliners crashed into each of the Twin Towers causing catastrophic casualties as well as further casualties when the towers collapsed, along with another hijacked airliner that hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
A breakdown of those numbers shows 343 firefighters died in New York City, including paramedics and civilian support staff. Seventy-one law enforcement officers were also killed.
In 2020, The New York Police Department confirmed that 247 officers have died from illnesses related to the 9-11 attacks.
An officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service died, when hijacked airliner United Airlines Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania.
In addition to first responders, approximately 2,600 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center; 125 people were killed at the Pentagon; 92 passengers on American Airlines Flight 11; 65 passengers on United Airlines Flight 175; 64 passengers on American Airlines Flight 77 and 44 passengers on United Airlines Flight 93. Nineteen terrorists also died in the attack they initiated. These casualty figures do not include the thousands of injuries and illnesses first responders and civilians have suffered from working in toxic debris in the aftermath of the attacks..
These grim statistics are what prompted ARK to invite all local and area first responders to this special event, being held just  four days before the 23rd anniversary of the attacks.
“We want to remember those,” said Turner. “I have my secretary working on getting me a list of names.  That way we can mention them while we are there.”
Turner emphasized the festival is a way of bringing back a remembrance of things so soon forgotten.
“My dad taught me a long time ago, if we forget our past, we are doomed to repeat it. We have to know our history.
“The fact that we have people who are willing to put their lives on the line to go in and save that person from the burning building, go over there and lay their lives on the line for our freedom needs to be honored and remembered.  Our veterans in this world, now days, don’t get the respect they deserve, in my opinion,” Turner continued.
Concerning first responders, Turner, who is a volunteer on the Bear Creek Fire Department, can speak from personal experience about the price they often have to pay, leaving  their families to respond and help others.
“You get that call; everything else doesn’t matter.  We’re trying to help people,” Turner pointed out.
“I have to sacrifice some time with my family, my kids, and that hurts a little bit,” he added. “But when you’re in an emergency situation like that, you can make somebody’s day a little bit brighter by going, being there to help them.  It does my heart good to know there are people who are willing to drop and run on those situations.
“We don’t get paid. It is called volunteer fire department for a reason,” Turner continued. “That’s people volunteering their time to go help other people,.”

Vendor deadline today

The Never Forget Bash, will begin at 6 p.m. at the park, with vendors lined up in the same fashion seen at the July Friendship Festival, which was held at the same location, organizers said.
All of the vendors are encouraged to be at the park by 4 p.m. to set up their spaces, Turner reminded.
The deadline for vendors to set up is  today, Wednesday,  Sept. 5.  Spots are  $25 for a 12x12 space, organizers said. Vendors with trailers less than 18 feet need to pay $40, with any trailer over 18 feet being charged $80, organizers said.  To register, make a donation or learn more, contact Pam Hyde at (205) 269-0302.
Two live acts will perform on stage at the  Bash - Mia Adair and Family Tradition.
This will be followed by all first responders in attendance being recognized and coming to the stage for a group photo, with Turner presenting some words of tribute, he said.

ARK, WOW
partnering to
upgrade stage

ARK is partnering with Woodmen of the World (now known as WoodmenLife) on a beautification project of the Twin Forks Park stage before the festival, Turner stated.
The project is being done thanks to a $500 grant from WoodmenLife, being matched by ARK to provide a handicap accessible ramp to the stage along with constructing a porch to store band equipment, as well as painting the stage, he explained.

Karaoke by the Lake concludes event

After this recognition, the final segment of the festival will be Karaoke by The Lake, where Rerun, a live deejay, will play music for participants in at least three age divisions to enter the contest, Turner said.
Participants pay $10 per selection, Turner emphasized.
“They can enter more than once, but it will be $10 for every song they sing,” he said.
Prizes for first, second and third place will be awarded in each age category, Turner added.
There will also be drawings for door prizes, including a money-back prize, a $250 prize and a $500 prize, Turner said.