By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Christy Sonderman of Cash Express presents the Millington Police Department with a gift in honor of 9/11.
Earlier this month marked the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For years Cash Express has commemorated the events of that day in 2001 by giving local firefighters and police officers a large cake. This year Cash Express assistant manager Christy Sonderman had the honors of delivering a cake and poster signed by customers to the Millington Police Department on Sept. 11. Cash Express make an annual trip to all the local fire stations and police department in Flag City to present a token of gratitude.
Sonderman presented the items to MPD patrolman Marvin Wiggins, K-9 officer Robert Akers, Sgt. Mike West and officers Paul Haulum and Randy O’Byrnes. While the cake was being presented, several MPD personnel talked about where they were 11 years ago. Back in 2001, a series of suicide attacks were committed on United States using commercial airplanes. That morning 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger planes striking the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. One plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania adding to the death toll of 246 passengers. Nearly 3,000 people died in the venues struck by the three other planes. Several lives were saved that day by New York police and firefighters. Over the next few days several department from across the United States traveled to New York and Washington to assist in the relief efforts. Back in Millington, now Inspector Charlie Coleman could remember guarding the Millington Regional Jetport and Navy Base. Sonderman said those who serve in the fire and police departments should be honored for they did the days following 9/11 and what they do daily.
“They are important to our community,” she said. “We don’t know what we would do without them. They make sure stuff is taken care of.”
