Houston County residents celebrate first responders, remember 9/11

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – More than 50 people gathered outside of the Old Perry Courthouse in remembrance of September 11 and to thank first responders on Friday morning.

It happened under a large American flag, waving from the top of a Perry firetruck.

Mayor James Faircloth Jr. from Perry, Mayor John Harley from Centerville and Mayor Randy Toms from Warner Robins all spoke at the podium. They encouraged attendees to “never forget.”

“Sometimes we lose our sight of what a great country we live in,” Major William Phelps with the Perry Police Department said.

Phelps remembers the attacks on 9/11 vividly.

“I remember so good that we could see the second plane hit the building, it was very sad,” Phelps said.

During the ceremony today, police chiefs and fire chiefs were honored with tokens of appreciation.

21-year Air Force and Vietnam Veteran Randall Pettyjohn was greatly impacted by the terrorist attacks on September 11. He also served over 20 years in law enforcement at the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

“I remember a lot of my brothers and sisters not making it out…,” Pettyjohn said. “It’s like one big family.”

Phelps and Pettyjohn both say this country and first responders deserve to be respected.

“This county is one of the best,” Phelps said. “If not the best in the entire world. We have more freedom that we can do and say pretty much whatever we want to.”