On Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m., members of Walter S. Chears Post 106 in Larned, Kan., and members of the community sheltered from the long-absent rain in the Larned Community Center Auditorium under common purpose: to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Guests were welcomed by Post Commander Michael Vondracek as he also introduced their special guests, members of the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, City of Larned Police Department, City of Larned Volunteer Fire Department and Pawnee County Emergency Medical Services. The Larned Middle School Choir sang their hearts out for the national anthem, followed by an invocation by Post Chaplain Randy Kuhn.
United States Sen. Jerry Moran gave the keynote address. During his address, he gave a retrospective on his time at Ground Zero after the attacks. He continued his remarks with his appreciation for veterans and current first responders. He concluded with thanking the post for continuing to remember the events of 9/11 21 years after they occurred, as remembrance events seem to be less and less each year.
The first responders in attendance and members of the post then laid the memorial wreath at the base of the American flag in remembrance of the lives that were lost, and the ceremony was concluded.