Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Several special events are being planned for the Warsaw area to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
World Trade Center survivor visits Warsaw
The first event, "Remembering 9/11: An Evening of Recognition and Honor" will be Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Warsaw Community High School gym, and will feature World Trade Center survivor Sujo John.
John also will speak at a special WCHS assembly from 2 to 2:45 p.m., which is open to the public. The assembly will include all high school students and also will feature the WCHS band. Public access for this assembly is through the iron gates into the gym. Public parking will be available on the south side of the high school.
The first half of the evening program will recognize and honor community and rescue teams - firemen, policemen, sheriff's department, state police, Red Cross and EMS - as they enter the gym in formation by their units. A special video of pictures taken by Al Disbro of area rescue teams also will be shown. Patriotic music will be provided by area choirs, including the Wawasee Select Choir and a combined community choir, and the WCHS band.
Army Chaplain Col. John Schumacher will acknowledge individuals who have served and are serving our country in the various branches of the armed forces. Following will be a special salute to Armed Forces personnel during the singing of the "Armed Forces Medley," and a salute to fallen heroes, both local and in general.
Sujo John was born and raised in a middle-class family in Calcutta, India, a city of more than 21 million people. His childhood was blemished by the death of his only sister, Elisabeth, due to leukemia.
John received his bachelor's degree in commerce from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta University, India, and his master's degree in marketing from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, New Delhi, India. He married his wife, Mary, Jan. 27, 2000, in Calcutta.
Sujo and Mary moved to the United States on Feb. 22, 2001. He left home with $50 and two suitcases stuffed with clothes and books for a new life overseas. He ended up for an interview at Network Plus on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center. He recalls, "Through the glass windows of the room I saw the most glorious sight of all - the Statue of Liberty."
The job in the World Trade Center was convenient for John because his wife worked on the 71st floor of the other tower of the World Trade Center.
At about 8:45 a.m. on Sept. 11, John had just faxed some documents and was returning to his desk when he heard an extremely loud explosion and noticed the building shaking and tilting. He said, "We didn't know what had happened, but later learned that the first aircraft had hit the floors directly above us. Soon debris from the aircraft flew into the office and everything started going up in flames."
John's first concern was his wife in the other tower. He later learned that his wife had not made it to work and was OK. She had been hysterically searching the streets, thinking he was dead.
In his presentation, John will recount the details of his gripping story of narrowly escaping death while helping rescue others, and how this event changed his life.
There is no charge for this community event; however, donations will be accepted at the doors after the program. Those donations will help support Sujo John.
The public also is encouraged to consider donating to the newly formed "Kosciusko County Patriotism Endowment," created by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc. The tax deductible gift or check should be payable to "KCCF."
This community event is being coordinated by the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church with cooperation from the following: Warsaw Community High School; Kosciusko County Community Foundation; CE National Inc.; Grace College and Seminary; Lakeland Christian Academy; Community Grace Brethren Church, Warsaw; and the Wawasee High School Select Choir.
For more information, call 267-6623 or e-mail wlgbc@kconline.com
Community-wide events scheduled Sept. 11
Special Remembrance Service
A time of special remembrance will begin at 12:15 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Center Lake Pavilion, Warsaw. This event is sponsored by an interdenominational group of churches and is open to the public. The program will last approximately 45 minutes.
The program will include a time of prayer and honor local police, sheriff, fire, EMS, other emergency services, armed forces and veterans. The service will open with a vocal call to worship by the First Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, choir.
Plans are to include a short clip of national remembrances from earlier that day. Morgan McClarnon, a Triton Elementary School fifth-grader, will give a patriotic presentation. Rebecca Benjamin, a homeschooler, will provide a violin solo.
Parade of Appreciation
At 6 p.m. there will be a quiet parade. Invitations have been sent to area fire, law enforcement and emergency personnel, and those who assist them. There will be no sirens; however, the WCHS band and possibly other bands will play patriotic numbers at points along the parade route.
The route is more than three miles long. The parade group will start forming at 5 p.m. at the Sprint building, West Center Street, in the Boggs Addition. The parade will step out at 6 p.m. and continue east on Center Street to Argonne Road. The parade will turn right (south) on Argonne Road to East Market St., and travel west on East Market to Bronson Street. At Bronson Street, the group will turn left (south) and end at the Fairgrounds.
The parade will culminate with a short program at the fairgrounds.
Businesses and residences along the parade route are asked to "light the way." This might be done with luminaries, porch lights or any other way to show support to those who daily put their lives on the line for the public.
For more information, call Mike Cox, Warsaw Police Department, or Mike Wilson, Warsaw Fire Department.
Candlelight Remembrance
Starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 will be the "Candlelight Remembrance," a come-and-go time of quiet reflection at Central Park. Park lights will be extinguished so only the luminaries may be seen.
