Guardsman holds his own 9/11 march

LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -

An East Texas soldier turned a simple gesture into a patriotic salute in his own September 11 march.   Starting off on his own, Army National Guard PFC Blaine Glover marched along Highway 80, from Longview to Marshall, in full utilities and full pack.

"Part of it was, I kind of wanted to feel a little uncomfortable like my friends and brothers over there in Afghanistan are feeling," Glover says.    

Halfway through the walk, he was spontaneously joined by a former Army 101st Airborne member.

"I have friends, several, that are getting ready to deploy in Afghanistan, and I just want people to remember today means something. I just don't want people to forget," Blaine says. 

Taking no money or donations, he got support and encouragement along the way from East Texans. 

The march needed no explanation.

"Had a lot of honks and a lot of people stopping kind of surprised," Glover says.

"I think its great that he's doing this, and more people should be out here to see this. I'm impressed, very impressed," said bystander Paige Crisman.    

"When you feel like you're having a bad day, I guarantee you there's a soldier in Afghanistan that is having a worse day. Just remember, that's all I have to say," Blaine says.

Blaine Glover has seen members of his previous unit deploy overseas and wants East Texans to keep all military members in their prayers.

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Tyler holds 9/11 ceremony: 'To honor those who have fallen'

TYLER, TX (KLTV) -

Wednesday morning, a September 11 ceremony took place outside Tyler City Hall. The ceremony was conducted by Mayor Barbara Bass, the Tyler Fire Department Honor Guard and the Tyler Police Department Honor Guard.

With the flag at half mast, Mayor Bass made a moving speech to remember those who have fallen.

The speech was followed by the playing of 'Taps' on the trumpet. 'Amazing Grace' was also played on the bagpipes.

The ceremony ended in prayer.

"We came today to remember the fallen and what first responders and military did on the day on that attack which was 12 years ago," said Don Martin, Public Information Officer with the Tyler Police Department. "It's so important. It's almost like Pearl Harbor. It's a day we will never forget and we lost many lives, close to 3,000. We come together to remember them and make sure they didn't die in vain."

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Soldier holds flag in East Texas heat in remembrance of 9/11

EAST TEXAS (KLTV) -

Anyone driving down Highway 155 South on Wednesday may have seen a soldier standing in the Texas heat in full uniform holding an American flag. 

The soldier, Sergeant First Class Adam Gonzales, a Coffee City resident, says he was there in remembrance of the 12th anniversary of September 11 and that it was a very difficult day for him. He declined to elaborate further about holding the flag.

"I wouldn't feel right until all my brothers and sister come home from Afghanistan" said Gonzales.

A veteran herself, passerby Shawn Victory had to stop and take a picture of Gonzales.

"He held true for what we stand for and what our soldiers mean for the country," said Victory.

The photo was posted on the Army WTF Facebook page yesterday and has already received over 96,000 likes and 30,000 shares.

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