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Melanie Morgan
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NEWS: SPECIAL SECTION: REMEMBERING 9/11
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Sacramentans Gather to Commemorate 9/11 Attacks

By SacUnion Staff Writer

People from throughout northern California converged at the west steps of the State Capitol Tuesday evening to commemorate the 5th year anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

Billed as the largest 9/11 commemoration in the western United States, the event was part patriotic rally, part picnic in the park and part candlelight vigil.

Music filled the air throughout much of the event.  At times the mood was bright as a sea of American flags waved in the wind, dancing amid the sounds of the K-Street Ramblers Dixieland jazz.  15-year old Tessa Evans captivated the audience with a moving rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Later in the evening the mood was more somber.  Candles flickered to honor the lives lost, tears ran from bleary eyes, and singer Kaweah Angel held the crowd in a trance as she sang a collection of inspirational songs.

Members of the public filled Capitol Park with blankets and beach chairs, and they showered the first responders and military personnel who spoke with applause and cheers.

The event was co-sponsored by the Sacramento-based pro-troop organization, Move America Forward, and the area’s newest country music radio station, 101.9 FM – The Wolf. 

Master Sergeant John Ubaldi, a United States Marine Corps Reservist who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, coordinated the commemorative event and vigil.  He said he was inspired to have Move America Forward host the event because he felt inspired by, “all those who have perished for the freedom’s we enjoy, both on the battlefield and the first responders here at home.”

That was a sentiment shared by Move America Forward’s chairman, Melanie Morgan.

“Today we gather together as one people, united in our dedication and gratitude to the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders – men and women who instead of running out of burning buildings in New York and at the Pentagon, instead ran into them,” said Morgan.

“Their focus was on saving lives, even if it meant risking their own,” Morgan said.

DJ Nikki Landry broadcast live from the event for 101.9 FM – The Wolf and brought along a moving audio tribute to the victims of 9/11 and U.S. troops serving in the war on terrorism.  Landry herself is an Air Force Reservist, and she paid homage to those who perished on 9/11 as well as military personnel serving overseas.

Also taking to the main stage was radio personality and Fox News Channel analyst, Mark Williams.  Williams attracted a huge following when he sat at the helm of KFBK’s “Night Talk Live” radio program on weekday nights.  After a management change, KFBK sacked Williams and replaced him with former music DJ, Bruce Maiman, who has been an outspoken critic of President Bush and the war in Iraq.

“My big fear is that 9/11 was a wake up call to our nation about the threat from militant Islamic terrorists, but now we’ve rolled over and went back to bed.  Too many people are asleep to the continuing threat from these bloodthirsty jihadists, and I hope they wake up before we see more bloodshed in America’s cities,” Williams said.

And as he spoke, he asked the crowd to think back to that fateful day five years ago and observe a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11.  As they did they also lit the candle that had been distributed to participants and a glowing sea of candlelight swept across the Capitol Park.

The pain and agony of losing a loved one touched Vacaville resident Joseph Williams.  The northern California “Gold Star Father” lost his son Lance Cpl. Michael Jason Williams in the war in Iraq.  Williams urged attendees not to waver in their support for the war on terrorism.

There were other “Gold Star Fathers” in attendance including Mark Crowley and Mike Anderson – both men lost a son in the war in Iraq.  For them, the performance of “Goodnight Soldier” by local recording artist Derek Clark was an especially moving experience.

Sticking behind the troops and the war against terrorism was a message delivered by many of the event’s speakers including Deborah Johns of Roseville.  Johns serves as co-founder of Northern California Marine Moms.

Johns gained national recognition last year when she became the counter spokeswoman to anti-war activist, Cindy Sheehan.  Ms. Johns is the mother of Marine Sergeant William Johns, who has served repeated tours of duty in Iraq.

Earlier in the day, Deborah Johns spent the morning in San Diego, seeing her son off to his latest deployment.

“Every time I send William off, I know he may not come home, and that is not always the easiest thing to deal with as a mother.  But as an American I can’t tell you how proud I am of my son and his bravery, honor and courage.

“If every American had his steely resolve and patriotism we would have won the war against terrorism long ago,” Johns said.