9/11 speaker at event I chaired yesterday

BOSSIER CITY, La.—Freedom, bravery, sacrifice and gratitude were the four words stressed in a Sept. 11 speech by Col. Janet M. Deltuva, deputy command surgeon, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base.
She was the guest speaker for the 10th anniversary remembrance of 9/11 at the Liberty Garden at the Bossier Municipal Complex. The event is sponsored annually by Keep Bossier Beautiful and the City of Bossier City.
Deltuva was a first responder at the Pentagon on 9/11. She said Sept. 11, 2001, began as a beautiful day. She said colonels at the Pentagon first thought the plane striking the first World Trade Center tower was a navigational or air traffic control error.
Then the Pentagon shook when hit by Flight 77.
She said she has not forgotten moving in fear at her job in her own country and says a prayer every time she sees or hears B-52s at Barkdsale take off.
“You only need to live for one moment without freedom to appreciate how important it is,” Deltuva said.
She said rescuers at the Pentagon waded through fire, smoke and chest-high debris. “Today, right here, right now, let us not forget our military, our police, our firefighters and our medical and disaster specialists,” Deltuva said.
She recalled an interview of a daughter of a 9/11 victim who said “the people who did this don’t know that you can’t destroy love no matter what you do” and mentioned another interview with a deceased hero’s daughter who said, “How, how can I make myself happy? It’s by making other people happy.”
Deltuva’s 2010 New Year’s Eve resolution was to read the bible cover to cover and co-workers teased her about studying for the final exam. “On Sept. 11, I thought the final exam was in front of me,” she said. “I am so glad I had a relationship with God.”
It would be easy to be scared or angry or judge or hate a faith, Deltuva said, but she instead offered alternatives: Live with compassion, give others a chance, pray for the 9/11 families, honor today’s heroes--the military, police and firefighters and disaster responders—and be ready in your spiritual life.
Mayor Lorenz Walker presented Deltuva a key to the city.
Pat Simon, KSLA anchor and lieutenant colonel in the 225th Engineer Brigade, Louisiana National Guard, served as emcee. He was deployed to Iraq in 2009.
Others on the program were Craig Kennedy, chaplain of the Bossier City fire and police departments; Suzanne Stinson, Pledge of Allegiance, Commission for Women of Bossier City president; Meredith McLellan, national anthem; and Airline High School ROTC, presentation of colors.
Sponsors included Ouachita Bank, Barksdale Federal Credit Union, KTBS and Advanced Air Conditioning. Fans, water and Support Our Troops bracelets were given out, thanks to the sponsors.
The Liberty Garden was built in 2003 to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, said Mary Ann Van Osdell, president of Keep Bossier Beautiful. It is located between the police and fire departments at the municipal complex.
Elements include fire (flaming torches), water (pool and fountain) and earth (trees, shrubs, flowers and ornamental grasses). Iron work benches are designed like the American flag.
Etched granite panels represent all points of tragedy on 9/11.
Paving bricks in the garden are still for sale. Forms may be obtained from Alison Feaster at the Bossier Chamber of Commerce.
Bricks are $50 and can accommodate three lines of 14 letters. All donations are tax deductible.