To fit in with the theme of "Anniversaries," a solemn anniversary was marked at Saturday's Little Egypt Parade. A piece of steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers led off the parade with an honor guard from the Pana Fire Department. Pana Fire Chief Ron Bland says it was an honor to bring the Ground Zero remnants. "We were able to get one. We made a request to the Port Authority in New York and they had about 2,500 requests and only gave out 1,200 pieces. We were very fortunate to get ahold of one of them," Bland says. Bland says Salem Firefighters approached his department about bringing the I-Beam at the Pana Labor Day Walk. A Marion man played bagpipes as the I-Beam passed along the parade route. Paul Thompson says he grew up in New Jersey across the river from the Twin Towers. "I saw it go up, but I was here in Southern Illinois when it came down. So anything I can do to remember those who gave everything, I'm more than willing and proud to do it," Thompson says. Thompson played "Amazing Grace" as the firefighters paused before the nation's flag hanging above Broadway and Main Street. As a tribute to 9-11, emergency vehicles in the parade flashed their lights, but left their sirens silent. uk7qn
