Counties plan for Sept. 11

Girl Scout Troop 307 celebrated Patriot Day on Tuesday by learning proper respect for the American flag.

Isabelle Unger, 8, of Evans, learned the rules and etiquette involved in handling the flag from experts - the color guard at Fort Gordon - who demonstrated the techniques for the troop before holding an actual flag ceremony at the Stevens Creek Elementary School flagpole.

"I learned how to fold the flag," Isabelle said. "It must never touch the ground."

The troop is one of very few Columbia County groups observing the holiday, designated by Congress to be observed each Sept. 11 with local remembrance services for the victims and heroes of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

County officials explored the possibility of holding a Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony in coordination with an area church, but the plans fell through, said Pam Tucker, Columbia County's Emergency Management director.

No official county service is planned.

"Sept. 11 falls on a Sunday this year," Tucker said. "Of course, the memorial would be done at the time that the event occurred, which is around 9 a.m., when churches will all be in session. This year, the churches will do remembrances on their own.

"People will be in church anyway, and the churches will all remember Sept. 11 and all of the lives lost in their prayers and in their services."

Tucker said residents should be prepared for a memorial service next year, on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"It will fall on a weekday, and so we are planning to do something on the five-year remembrance," she said.

Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue will not observe a moment of silence or a series of ceremonious bell rings but instead will join the Richmond County parade in honor of Sept. 11, said Honey Shore, a department spokeswoman.

Shore said Richmond County officials are planning a parade Saturday, among other events.

"Right now, we're planning to join our commemoration with that of the city," Shore said. "We will be sending one of our engines and one of our other vehicles to participate."