As the anniversary of September 11, 2001, appears over the horizon, one local business is doing its part to help honor those that lost their lives that fateful day.
Tetrick, Valley and Oak Hill funeral home are offering a Freedom Ride on Sunday, Sept. 11, as a way to commemorate the 15th anniversary and pay respect to the men and women that were involved with the tragic event.
“As survivors of the 9/11 attacks, it is our job to remember the lives lost on that terrible day so that they remain with us and are never forgotten,” Tyler Tetrick, with Tetrick Funeral Home, said. “The Freedom Ride is an event where we as a community can come together and honor those brave heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice – some of whom are from right here in Carter County.”
The Freedom Ride is the second installment of the event, which took place back in 2011 to remember the 10th anniversary of 9/11, where over 225 motorcycles and other vehicles traveled from Elizabethton to Kingsport to show support for emergency personnel.
Sunday’s event begins at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton at 2 p.m. Once events conclude in Elizabethton, rides will head to the Jackson Love Highway exit in Unicoi County off I-26, then come through downtown Erwin before getting back on I-26 heading west. From Erwin, riders will arrive at Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services for a break, including ice cream and water. Following the breaking, participants will head toward Lynn Garden before finishing their ride at Oak Hill Memorial Park and Cremation Gardens in Kingsport.
“For those who served and are still serving in our military to protect our freedoms, they deserve our respect and deepest gratitude,” Tyler said. “We are blessed to have dedicated, professional police, firefighters, and emergency responders in our community. The ride is an opportunity to show our appreciation to those brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day, here and abroad, to protect us from whatever threats we may face. 9/11 was a terrible day for our nation and we will never forget it, but it also is a time to remember how resilient we are as a people. Our hope is that the Freedom Ride will remind us of this as we pay tribute to this great nation and to those who protect it.”
Special guest speakers are also expected to be in attendance for the 2 p.m. start in Elizabethton.
Mr. Tetrick added that individuals that want to participate and don’t want to ride on a motorcycle are more than able to ride in a car.
Anyone interested in participating with the Freedom Ride is encouraged to call Tetrick Funeral Home at 423-610-7171 and speak with or leave a voicemail for Laura Graham.