“A lot of men have given their lives in Iraq,” he said at the Scioto County Veterans Service Office 9/11 memorial service at the county courthouse. “But we need to remember the men who will have to live with their injuries for 50 or 60 years too.”
In addition to American casualties, Crabtree said 80,000 Iraqi citizens have been killed in the war.
Crabtree wasn't the only speaker to bring the Iraq War into the service.
City Police Chief Charles Horner said terrorists will strike again.
“So we must take the war to the enemy and prevent them from bringing it to us,” he said.
Horner finished his portion of the service by reading President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Assistant fire chief Jim Elliott followed Horner and echoed his sentiments.
“We can never forget what happened,” Elliott said. “We must bring it to them and not let them bring it back to us.”
Bob Kimble, of the Ohio American Legion, said the United States is safer now but not safe.
“We need to remember our civilian warriors,” he said. “Men and women that leave their homes, their communities and jobs to go off and fight this war on terrorism so that it doesn't happen here. We are very vulnerable.”
Kimble said Americans should thank returning military members for their service in fighting terrorism.
Following Kimble's remarks, the James Dickey American Legion Post 23 honor guard fired a 21-gun salute to honor those killed in New York, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., on 9/11.
Also present were several city firefighters and a color guard comprised of firefighters and police officers.
Mayor Jim Kalb and auditor Trent Williams were in attendance, but did not speak during the ceremony.
In a related issue, Vern Riffe School scheduled a parade around its building in remembrance of 9/11.
JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
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