College of the Ozarks to hold 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

INTERNAL EVENT ONLY -

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — On Friday, Sept. 11, College of the Ozarks will hold a special ceremony to commemorate the lives of those who perished in the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

Because of COVID-19 guidelines, this year’s event will not be open for the general public. A limited number of students will participate.  

Ted Martin, fire chief and management director for the City of Branson Fire and Rescue Department, will be delivering remarks during the ceremony. Two patriotic education classes from the College and School of the Ozarks will attend the service following distancing and masking protocols.

“Because we must take extra caution to protect our campus community, we knew it would be best to avoid a mass gathering of students for the memorial service,” said Marci Linson, vice president for patriotic activities and dean of admissions. “However, we also knew that we would not allow a virus to keep us from honoring the dead and the heroes of that day, and the many who have died since. Unity isn’t always a time where groups gather in one place at one time for an event, unity is in our hearts and minds. I believe we can honor those who served by remembering to put others before ourselves.”

The service will begin with the traditional “attention” bugle call.  The symbolic volley of the bell on the Point Lookout Fire Department fire engine will immediately follow and broadcast across campus for all to hear. Campus activities will cease for a moment of silence to remember the lives lost.

“We hope that the bell volley at the beginning of the service will be a meaningful signal to everyone on campus to stop, take a moment, remember, and reflect,” Linson said. “Teaching students about the terrorist attacks on that day is more critical this year and from now on because most of this year’s fall class were not born until after 9/11, 2001.”

Faculty and work supervisors will take a few moments to acknowledge and share with students about the fateful events of that day in American history.

The College encourages students and employees to take red carnations located outside of residence halls and administrative buildings and place them at the base of the 9/11 Lest We Forget Memorial, located next to the College of the Ozarks Fire Department, throughout the day. By the end of day, each red carnation placed in memory will represent each man, woman, and child who perished during the terrorist attacks.

About Ted Martin

Growing up in Raymore, Missouri, Martin graduated from College of the Ozarks with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and an emphasis in journalism and photography, plus a minor in animal science. While attending C of O, Martin earned his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and lived in the campus fire station.

After college, he earned his Missouri State certifications as a paramedic, fire inspector, fire investigator, fire officer and hazardous materials technician.  He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and is a certified chief fire officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Martin, his wife, Kathy live in Branson, Missouri with their son Luke, who currently attends the School of the Ozarks.

Lest We Forget

On September 11, 2015, the College dedicated the “Lest We Forget” 9/11 Memorial.

This memorial includes one of the last remaining remnants of the World Trade Center structure. This piece of steel was donated to the College by Tommy McHale, a retired police officer, who wanted to honor the 37 fallen men and women officers from the Port Authority for New York and New Jersey who perished on 9/11.

The structure is referred to as “St. Michael’s 37.” St. Michael is considered the patron saint of police officers and represents strength to face the threat of evil and imminent danger.

College of the Ozarks recognizes the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, as a national tragedy wherein nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken. The College honors those fallen heroes each year on September 11, so that they are not forgotten. We graciously thank those who carefully assembled the memorial and those who pause to remember the sacrifices made.