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closeMoment of silence held for victims of September 11
Bonney Lake couple organize memorial event at Bonney Lake High School to honor the fallen, support soldiers
Roxanne Cooke
Around the country, Americans remembered Sept. 11, 2001 last Thursday. In Bonney Lake, a few dozen students, two soldiers and a couple with a passion for patriotism gathered at Bonney Lake High School’s flagpole for a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance and the release of about 100 yellow balloons before the start of the school day.
Nearby, the school rocks were painted black with yellow writing. They read: “Where were you?” and “We will never forget.”
This is the third year Jewel and Mark Brehm have put together a Sept. 11 observance. Jewel Brehm calls herself a grassroots mom and her husband is a Renton firefighter.
“How do you say thank you?” Jewel Brehm said. “Thank you is not enough. I just want to bring attention to the military. I just don’t think it’s encouraged. I don’t care what the politics are. We still have people fighting for our country.”
The Brehms’ 17-year-old daughter, Hilary, is the Bonney Lake High School class president. She said she was glad her mother organized the memorial.
“I was excited,” she said. “(Soldiers) deserve a lot more respect than they get.”
Two soldiers present, Capt. Rob Hamilton and Staff Sgt. Jack Rowlett, from the A-Troop 1/303D CAV, helped hand out balloons to students stepping off the buses around 7 a.m. Their unit is based out of the Puyallup Armory and part of the Washington Army National Guard 81st Brigade Combat Team, which is headed to Iraq next month.
To begin the ceremony, Mark Brehm reminded students of their responsibility to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11.
“You want to make sure you don’t forget,” he said.
When he recognized the soldiers, students cheered. A moment of silence was observed, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and anyone holding a balloon then let go, watching as the burst of yellow caught the sunlight in the sky.
After the crowd scattered, the two soldiers obliged students by posing for pictures that students requested.
“It’s good to see a good community event,” Hamilton said. “It’s good to see youth involved.”
“We’re proud to take part in it,” Rowlett said.