The Killeen community is invited once again to gather together to remember.
Killeen ISD will host the 19th annual Freedom Walk at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at Harker Heights High School beginning in the school auditorium and continuing outside on the stadium track.
Three school district employees will share their stories on video, and a live guest speaker will help illustrate this year’s focus on veterans, school district Community Relations Director Angenet Wilkerson said.
Those who attend the event will have a chance to reflect on that day 24 years ago, hear the perspective of military veterans who answered the call to service during that time and take a walk together to celebrate freedom.
Wilkerson, an educator, considers the auditorium a classroom and the prepared video and speaker as a history lesson.
“As a nation, that day brought us together,” she said, recalling television footage of national leaders declaring “God bless America.”
This year’s freedom walk, like the others, will include local law enforcement and government leaders, military groups, Gold Star families and a lot of students.
Harker Heights High School students will serve as MC and introduce the speaker. The school choir, dance team, Junior ROTC and band drum line will take part.
The local freedom walk, tied to Patriot Day began in conjunction with a national tradition at the Pentagon and Wilkerson said it remains important in and around Killeen to continue it.
“We’re reminded daily of our heroes with our first responders and our service members,” she said.
“We have to keep sharing it. As a school district, it is incumbent on us to share the good and the bad. The good is that we’re still standing. We are still Americans.”
“I want everyone to leave that day standing a little taller.”
18th annual KISD Freedom Walk photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720320252982