U.S. Army Veteran and Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith was the keynote speaker at Kosciusko County’s annual Patriot Day Ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Text and Photos
By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Two years after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith was deployed to Kuwait as part of the war on terror.

Smith was the keynote speaker at Kosciusko County’s Patriot Day Ceremony, held at the 9/11 Memorial in Warsaw’s Central Park on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Sept. 11 was designated as Patriot Day by Congress just months after terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people, including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement personnel.

Smith said he was 20 years old and was running a vending route for a business he serviced when he was told the World Trade Center was struck by an aircraft.

“I knew that in some way, this was going to have a direct impact on my life, as I was an enlisted solider in the Army Reserves,” said Smith. “What (New York City) was undergoing was enough to give anyone sadness, fear, and anxiousness.”

As time progressed, Smith described feeling “a shift” within the nation, describing it as one of “unity, faith, and pride.”

At the age of 22, Smith was deployed to Kuwait for nine months, operating as a truck driver. Smith’s son had just been born, with Smith seeing him only for a few hours before flying overseas.

“The overwhelming support from the people in America truly had a part of me being motivated in my mission while serving overseas,” said Smith.

Witnessing communities within the country come together following the Sept. 11 attacks is something Smith says he will always remember.

“I would challenge everyone, including myself, to become better at leading an optimistic way of living, and perhaps find a way to set aside the smaller things, and worry less about the little things, all for a greater cause,” said Smith. “I’m so very proud of the community we have here and especially the support we have for all first responders and military.”

Mike Cox, chairman of the Kosciusko 9/11 Committee, also gave remarks during the event, reminding those in attendance to honor and remember the victims of Sept. 11, 2001.

Cox noted 343 additional firefighters have since passed away from the effects of 9/11.

“The heartache and suffering is ongoing,” said Cox. “There have been terrorist plots against the United States that have been foiled since 9/11. It is up to each of us to be vigilant and report those, however insignificant they may seem. To me, that’s why we must never forget Sept. 11, 2001.”

Local firefighters, police officers, and EMS from around the county attended the ceremony. Patriot Guard Riders provided a flag display. Boy Scout Troop 715 led the Pledge of Allegiance, Bryce Lippe sang the National Anthem and Ed Rock sang “God Bless the USA.” Ken Locke concluded the ceremony with a prayer.