Nothing Less Than Reverent

ASHLAND - The town of Ashland hosted the 138th annual Greene County Volunteer Firefighters Association convention, last week, drawing rave reviews for the smoothness of the four-day event.

Hundreds of folks were served dinner inside the local firehouse. There were a pair of parades, awards handed out and fireworks.

More than a bit of, ahem, beverage was poured as Ashland’s finest also celebrated their 100th anniversary at a closing, Saturday night party.

What will be most remembered, however, was a flag-raising on Friday, paying tribute to the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and, in a personal and poignant way, to Jeremy Glick.

Friday evening started with the traditional Mardi Gras Parade, featuring a march of merriment, followed by a showing of profound respect.

“Part of the plan, after the Mardi Gras parade, is the official dedication of our new 85’ flag pole at the town park,” said 55-year Ashland firefighter Richard Tompkins, leading up to the event.

“We will have more than 3,000 flags prepositioned near the activity tent. We will raise our 18’ by 30’ foot flag for the first time in honor of Jeremy Glick.”

Glick, who has family roots in the neighboring town of Jewett, was on board ill-fated United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Glick, along with other passengers aware of the attacks at the World Trade Center - and later the Pentagon - attempted to regain control of the hijacked plane which tragically crashed in Pennsylvania.

A road is named in memory of Glick in Jewett and he, along with all those who died, received hero remembrances. “This is one small way to commemorate what everybody gave for us,” Tompkins said.

What unfolded Friday around dusk was no less than reverent. A crowd was gathered as four Ashland volunteers gracefully prepared Old Glory, raising her to the highest point before lowering her to half mast.

As they worked, and as veteran fireman Randy Tuttle gently sounded the Bell of Honor, a graceful silence settled on the grounds, the only sound possibly making any sense.

Photo: A reverent silence fell over the Ashland town park, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, as local firefighters raised Old Glory to the heights before lowering the commemorative flag to half mast in honor all all those lost.