Sept. 11, Troops Remembered

Sep 13, 2006 - 15:23:55 CDT.

MARKING the time five years ago that the first terrorist-controlled plane flew into the World Trade Center in New York, Liz Eberle (center) prompts a color guard of Fredericksburg firemen at City Hall Monday to begin raising a flag that flew over a military base at Fallujah, Iraq. The flag was sent by Mrs. Eberle’s son. -Standard-Radio Post Photo by Cathy Collier

Flag ceremonies at City Hall and at Fredericksburg Independent School District campuses Monday morning at 7:46 a.m. marked the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.

The flag raised at City Hall was a special one donated by Liz Eberle n a gift from her son MSgt. Frank E. Herbert, a United States Marine deployed for the third time to Iraq.

Herbert dedicated the flag, which flew over the headquarters of Regimental Combat Team 5 at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, June 14, in recognition of Fredericksburg for its continual support of the Marines and sailors taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.

It was his way of expressing thanks for the work of efforts like “The Support Our Troops Group” in Fredericksburg who have mailed “care packages” to U.S. service men and women stationed overseas.

That group, spokesman Karen Oestreich said Monday, is gathering names for another mailing on Nov. 1.

Relatives, friends and other supporters of troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Okinawa are encouraged to provide addresses of military personnel along with monetary assistance to purchase items like phone cards and trail mix as well as help with postage costs.

Donors are also welcomed to provide homemade cookies that the group plans to vacuum seal in order to preserve freshness during transport. Those will be collected on Oct. 30.

“We’ll need to start over with addresses because we don’t know how many troops have come home,” Mrs. Oestreich said. “So, if people have submitted addresses before and their loved ones and friends are still stationed overseas, we’re asking that they submit those addresses again.”

The contact information for sending addresses will be included at the end of this article.

Monday’s flag ceremony was timed to mark the precise moment in Central Daylight Time when the first airliner was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.

A short ceremony, led by Mayor Jeryl Hoover, commemorated the anniversary and the flag was presented to the city.

“It is a very good thing for Americans to stop for just a few minutes in memory of that tragic day when 2,973 people were killed, including 246 on the four planes, 2,602 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, 125 at the Pentagon, 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters, 23 New York City Police Department officers and 37 Port Authority police officers,” Mrs. Eberle said.

A certificate that came with the flag sent by Mrs. Eberle’s son was also presented during the ceremony.

Gathering were members of the Fredericksburg City Council, Police Department, Fire Department and members of the public.

Ceremonies were also held simultaneously at Fredericksburg ISD campuses.

Anyone wishing to submit addresses or send monetary assistance for the “care packages” being put together for members of the armed services may contact:

•koestreich@c21sunset.com (e-mail);

•Karen Oestreich, 408 West Main, Fredericksburg, TX 78624; or,

•Century 21 Sunset Realtors office at 408 W. Main for hand delivery.

“We would really appreciate money to help with purchasing other supplies and for the mailing,” Mrs. Oestreich said. “We especially need addresses as we have none right now.”