Tri-State 9/11 Tribute Set for the Weekend

Flag Retirement Ceremony

The 4^th Annual Tri-State 9/11 Tribute honoring all first responders and Armed Forces members will be in full force this weekend in downtown Lamar as part of the Fall Festival activities on Friday, September 11^th, and a full day of scheduled activities at the Prowers County Fairgrounds following Saturday’s 10am parade.

Cub Scouts Salute Honor Guard at Courthouse During First Tribute Observance

A small, patriotic presentation on the Prowers County Courthouse steps four years ago, has grown into an all-day observance of local and national first responders and to the nation’s members in the armed forces. Doug Harbour and his committee are now working through a good portion of the year, making contacts for participants and coordinating the contributions of those who will take part in the hour-long parade and presentations at the fairgrounds on Saturday, September 12.

Hall of Honor Displays at Fairgrounds

The parade route was moved from Main Street in Lamar last year because the duration of the parade would have exceeded one hour, the length of time CDOT regulations allow a street to be closed to traffic. Now participants will line up on Beech Streets in Lamar and travel south on South 6^th Street to West Cedar Street, connect with South 9^th Street and continue into the fairgrounds.

Parade participants are invited to park your personal vehicles at the fairgrounds prior to the fair and bus transportation will be available starting at 8:30am to bring you to the parade assembly site. This way, once the parade has concluded, you’ll have your vehicle at hand with no need for additional travel.

The events will begin at the fairgrounds at approximately 10:30am, followed by a flag retirement ceremony conducted by the local Cub Scout Troop at the Pavilion. At noon, a BBQ will be available, free to all first responders and armed forces members, past and present. All others will be charged $5. At 1pm, a formal tribute ceremony will begin at the arena to be followed by a patriotic concert at 2pm featuring Desert Reign.

Participants will be able to view a new patriotic mural which is being painted on the rear wall of the fairgrounds grandstands using portions of drawings submitted by five area students. Some of the festivities will be held at Willow Creek Park at 5pm that afternoon with a ‘Paint the Plains for Patriotism’ 5K run/walk. Participants will be sprayed with red-white and blue colored cornstarch at several checkpoints along the course.