There was a good turnout of college students and first responders at Wednesday’s Patriot Day wreath-laying ceremony at Mizzou’s Traditions plaza in Columbia.
The ceremony included a wreath-laying, a flyover by an MU Health Care helicopter and the presentation of colors. Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe spoke at the ceremony, telling 939 the Eagle that it’s about remembrance of that day:
“So many people talk about where they were. You know I was a student at Mizzou and I think about the silence of that day, and then also just immediately how quick everyone came together. And I think that unity is what we see our country needs. We needed it then and we need it now just coming together for really the betterment of all,” Mayor Buffaloe says.
The Mizzou ROTC Joint Service Color Guard and the city of Columbia Honor Guard presented the colors. There were few dry eyes at the ceremony at Mizzou’s Mel Carnahan quadrangle, when bagpipes played. The Boone County Fire Protection District’s pipe and drums provided the emotional music, including Taps. Mayor Buffaloe praises them:
“As you as they start, immediately everybody just calms and sits there. Because it is a solemn reminder of this day, and they are the voice of that reminder,” says Buffaloe.
