HUNTERSVILLE – Meadowlake Church commemorated the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, alongside Huntersville firefighters, police officers and emergency medical responders. The church sponsored a community-wide prayer walk to remember those who died and honor those who serve.
The Sept. 11 observance began when Huntersville firefighters raised a large American flag with a ladder truck at the church, at 6501 Gilead Road, allowing it to wave 75 feet in the air. Firefighters also invited children and adults to explore the fire trucks that were parked in front of the church.
Everyone attending the 10:30 a.m. worship service received a card with the name and picture of a firefighter, police officer or medical responder who died during the 9/11 attacks, and Pastor Fred Lowrance asked each person to pray for those heroes in the days and weeks to come.
At 11:30 a.m., more than 225 people walked from the church to the Huntersville fire station on Beatties Ford Road, escorted by police and firefighters. At the station, the group gathered in a circle, prayed together and then walked back to the church.
The Huntersville fire and police departments, North Mecklenburg Rescue Squad and Earth Fare sponsored the prayer walk. Earth Fare offers free coffee to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians and a 5 percent discount to military personnel.