For the first time in almost 20 years the Putnam County 9/11 Memorial Service is cancelled.
Event Planner Steve Moore said this was a difficult decision, but it was a practical one. He said social distancing could not have been achieved at the court house.
“We just hope that everybody will take a minute or two or whatever they want to do on Friday and just say a prayer for the 3,000 people who lost their lives-perished-in New York City and Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania,” Moore said.
Moore said the 9/11 Memorial Service began in 2002 with over 7,000 attendees at the fairgrounds. Since then, he has helped plan a smaller scale event at the court house every year.
“While we didn’t have an attack right here on Putnam County, an attack in New York City and Washington and Shanksville-an attack on those places is an attack on all of us,” Moore said.
A usual service includes a changing of the colors presentation by the Cookeville High School ROTC, three prayers from local religious leaders, a benediction, the Pledge of Allegiance, The National Anthem, and a first responder recognition.
Moore said the Memorial Service each year is made possible from the help of County Clerk Wayne Nabors and Barbara Brown from Woodman Life.
