MUSKEGON, Mich. — A group of West Michigan scouts, their leaders and first responders saluted in silence Wednesday in Muskegon to honor the victims of 9/11.
The continuous salute, 23 years later, carried on for more than an hour facing the LST 393.
Troop 1053B Scout Master David Closz told 13 ON YOUR SIDE, "it's been something that's been going on ever since that occurred."
He explained this is one of a handful of events like it hosted across the state, including in Grand Rapids at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
Closz explained each year of the salute brings with it a new purpose.
"By doing the salute and explaining it to the boys and girls who come and do the salute, it keeps the memory alive, it keeps us realizing what it cost to have the freedoms we have in our country," he said.
Fruitport 8th Grader Brian Meeuwenberg participated in the event. He said Wednesday, "we will be saluting for all of the people that died, and all the brave people who went in and risked their lives for to save people."
While honoring the lives lost is a different experience for him than those who were alive at the time, he said, "just because we weren't around when the event happened, doesn't mean that we shouldn't honor them, because we should continue honoring them for many, many years to come."