Honoring sacrifice on the 15th anniversary

Public welcome to attend Sept. 11 church service

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

September 11, 2001, was a date America stood still, after two airplanes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. This year marks the 15th anniversary of a pivotal moment in the American history.

Westosha Lakes Church in Twin Lakes looks to honor those who lost their lives and all public safety officials across the United States in a ceremony at Lakewood School on the anniversary of the event.

Andrew Smiley
Andrew Smiley

Campus Pastor the Rev. Andrew Smiley, who plans to preside at the 10 a.m. joint service, said it is a way to give back to both the community and those who sacrificed their lives on the fateful day.

“We wanted to show the community that we are here for the community, we want to serve the community and with Sept. 11 being on a Sunday, we came up with the idea to honor and encourage our public servants to come,” Smiley stated.

Smiley, formerly of the Paddock Lake branch since 2011, opened another congregation with services at Lakewood School in November of 2015.

Since he started services, Smiley has served as a volunteer chaplain of the Twin Lakes Police Department. Some of the officers attend his Sunday services.

“(I) have spoken with the chief, and he hopes to be there, and we have a couple officers in our congregation that will be in attendance,” Smiley stated.

Like most Americans, Smiley recalled the day it happened when he was a high school student in Noblesville, Indiana.

“All extra-curricular activities were cancelled. I was playing tennis that fall, and practices and matches were cancelled for weeks,” he stated.

Additionally, he said, anxiety ran through his family, since his father, David, was traveling by air when the air attacks occurred.

“My family was wondering how he would get home,” he said.

Smiley later moved to Deerfield, Ill., to attend seminary college Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, before his assignment to the Paddock Lake branch in 2011.

The Sunday service, he said, caters to all denominations and members of the public are welcome.

If you go…
WHAT: Back the Badge Sunday
THEME: “Remembering, Honoring and Encouraging our Public Heroes.”
WHEN: 10 a.m. September 11
WHO: Westosha Lakes Church
WHERE: Lakewood School, 1218 Wilmot Ave. Twin Lakes
EVENTS: 10 a.m. Service, 11 a.m. Brunch in Cafeteria, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Family Activities


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