Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Residents remember 9/11

Speaking to a crowd of first-responders and citizens early Wednesday, David Stone asked those gathered to reflect on the 18 years that have passed since the deadly terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"Can you believe it's passed that quickly?" said the long-time president of Portales' James Polk Stone Community Bank, where the group assembled for the annual remembrance ceremony. "This was not the first attack on America, but it certainly was a terrible one."

It is a different world since then, and with the "most recent terror attacks performed by mentally ill and disgruntled Americans," Stone added.

The flag ceremony, which included a performance of Taps from the Cannon Air Force Base Honor Guard and the National Anthem from Eastern New Mexico University students, closed with recognition of military, law enforcement and other local public service employees.

On Wednesday afternoon in Clovis' Hillcrest Park, Steed-Todd Funeral Home hosted its fifth-annual free meal for local first-responders, with local medical investigator Randi Wright catering sandwiches from his "Chuckwagon" food truck.