BY J. EDWARD MORENO
EDINBURG — Following the beat of a snare drum and a bagpipe player, over 100 Edinburg Girl Scouts marched from City Hall to the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday morning to pay tribute to first responders.
At the end of their march, the young girls were met with rows of parents and first responders ready for the 4th annual Edinburg Girl Scouts Patriot Day Tribute.
Lennon Lee Moats,10, ceremony leader and member of Troop No. 407, lead the crowd in the pledge of allegiance and gave opening statements on behalf of the Edinburg Girl Scouts.
She and other girl scouts visited New York City this summer where they saw the 9/11 memorial. The massive cenotaph has two large square pools that represent the two towers and the names of all 2,996 people who were killed in the attack.
That experience helped them gain a new appreciation for service members.
“We were amazed, overwhelmed and saddened by this beautiful place that was once the World Trade Center,” Lennon said. “But it also made us remember that we have our own heroes here in Edinburg.”
Edinburg Fire Chief Shawn Snider said he appreciates the gesture from the Girl Scouts, adding that 9/11 was a turning point for patriotism in the United States.
“Police officers, EMS and firefighters — they do what they do because it’s a calling,” he said. “What happened on 9/11 re-emphasized the importance of making sure that every person that is in our country honor the people that have served before”
Darlene Sarellano, an Edinburg resident and mother of one of the Girl Scouts, said it’s important for children to learn what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, so they can respect service members appropriately.
“It’s important to teach them the history and to appreciate and respect silence and the people protect their freedom,” she said. “It’s important to teach that respect.”
