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Community Gathers For Patriot Day 9/11

OAKHURST – Sierra Tel invites the community to its annual Patriot Day event on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Sierra Telephone Oakhurst Business Office at 9 a.m.

Keynote Speaker for the 2013 Patriot Day Remembrance Event is Larry E. Westerlund, who served as a surface warfare officer with the United States Naval Reserve, from which he recently retired after 24 years of service as a Lieutenant Commander.

During his service, Westerlund received the Department of Defense Joint Commendation Medal Second Award, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement.

Patriot Day 9-11-12 Cal Fire enginePatriot Day at Sierra Tel is intended to recognize and show appreciation to all Veterans, Active Duty Military and Emergency Services Personnel for their dedication to our country and communities, as well as to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Plans include a special flag-raising ceremony, pledge of allegiance, patriotic music performances, 21 rifle salute and Taps.

Veterans, Active Duty Military and Emergency Services Personnel will be presented with recognition gifts.

Patriot Day Cadet corp SaluteImmediately following the event, the Sierra Tel Safety Awareness Committee will serve all-American apple pie and ice cream in the Pete Sorenson Pavilion located behind the Sierra Telephone building.

The annual event is a panoply of small town patriotism and participation, as students from grade school through high school gather with family and friends to mark a dark day in history. With the demonstration of appreciation for the nation’s veterans past and present, many are moved to tears with sorrow over our losses and pride for the heroism of our armed forces and first responders.

That mix of emotion may be what makes the apple pie and ice cream taste even sweeter, as people mingle and talk afterwards before heading back to work, home and school.

Each year following the events of September 11, 2001, Sierra Tel has made a visible statement of patriotism by affixing flags to each of its company vehicles. The flags are flown from Patriot Day through Veteran’s Day.

Sierra Tel is located at 49150 Road 426 in Oakhurst.

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