Community Turns Out To Honor Victims Of 911

The event honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks 17 years ago was nonpartisan, North Oconee High School Young Americans for Freedom Chapter Advisor Kirk Shook told the roughly 100 people assembled at the school on Sunday.

To emphasize the point, Shook noted that Democrat Deborah Gonzales, representing the 117th House District in the Georgia General Assembly, was among those gathered to place 2,977 small flags on the school’s lawn to commemorate the victims of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Also in attendance were Houston Gaines, the Republican challenging Democrat Gonzales in the Nov. 6 election, and Marcus Weidower, running as a Republican in the 119th House District.

Kim Argo, running as a Republican for Post 3 on the Board of Education, and Andrea Wellnitz, running as a Democrat for Post 2 on the Board of Education, also were there, Shook noted.

The group planted the flags in a formation around the entrance sign to the school so students arriving on campus this week are reminded of the attacks that changed American 17 years ago.

Though the flag-planting event was nonpartisan–none of those present did any obvious campaigning–the campaign season has begun.

The Oconee County Chamber of Commerce announced today that the Oconee and Athens-Area chambers are teaming up for a candidate forum on Oct. 11, two days after voter registration ends and four days before early voting starts for the Nov. 6 election.

The Oconee Enterprise will host a candidate forum on Oct. 4.

For more on this story, including a collection of video clips from the event on Sunday, please go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Flag planters at North Oconee High School.