On September 11, 2024, the Boys and Girls Club of Statesboro brought the community together for a special tribute to honor our local first responders, marking the anniversary of 9/11. The program, filled with youthful energy and sincere appreciation, was a touching reminder of the bravery and dedication of those who serve and protect us every day.
The event kicked off with an introduction by the Boys & Girls Club's Bryan Thompkins. "Alright, everybody, get to me one time! One time, two times!" rang through the crowd as the kids greeted their special guests, setting the tone for the afternoon. This was no ordinary day at the Boys and Girls Club; it was a time to reflect, remember, and give thanks.
David Ball, chair of the board for the Boys and Girls Club, took the microphone with a smile. "I have the easiest job in the world, playing with these kids every day and beating them in foosball," he joked, quickly shifting the focus to the honored guests in attendance. Police Chief Mike Broadhead, along with EMS Director Brian Hendrix and other first responders, received a warm welcome for their service.
"Sometimes we don't pay them as much as we should," Ball noted, "but they show up anyway, and that's what we appreciate."
As part of the program, they recounted the activities the kids had done leading up to the event, all focused on 9/11 and first responders. The kids drew pictures, wrote thank you notes, and even participated in reenactments to better understand the roles of police, firefighters, and emergency medical workers.
The event reminded everyone of the significance of 9/11, a day when 2,977 lives were lost, including 413 first responders. 343 were firefighters, 60 were police officers, and 8 were emergency medical responders.
Then came the moment to recognize the local heroes. One by one, fire departments, police departments, and EMS teams were called to the front. The Bulloch County Fire Department, Statesboro Fire Department, Bulloch County Sheriff's Deputies, GS Police, and Statesboro Police Department all received gift baskets from the kids, as a small token of appreciation for their service. Each team was met with applause, gratitude, and plenty of smiles from the crowd.
Among the organizations that contributed to making the day possible were Allstate, Frazier's Flowers, and Petco, whose donations helped provide baskets, wreaths, and other gifts for the first responders.
Joel Hanner from Georgia Power, who helped sponsor the event, took the stage with a bit of humor. "I was supposed to bring a 40-foot check," he said with a grin, "but it didn't come in the mail, so we'll just hand one over later!" The crowd laughed, but the message was clear: this event was about more than just gifts or donations. It was about coming together as a community to say, "Thank you."
As the program wrapped up, the kids gave one final round of applause, filling the room with appreciation. The energy was still high, with everyone echoing the familiar chant: "Everybody, get to me one time! One time, two times!"
In closing, the Boys and Girls Club staff guided the kids to their classrooms, but not before one last heartfelt message: "We learned about the past today, and if we don’t learn from it, the future is nothing to look forward to." And with that, the day of remembrance ended, but the gratitude for our first responders continues.
