Walker County residents honored the fallen heroes and people who died Sept. 11, 2001, during a Tuesday morning ceremony at the Nemec Flagpole Plaza.

Military veterans, city and county officials and residents remembered the victims of one of the most tragic days in United States history and at the same time broke ground for two major projects in the county.

The new HEARTS Veterans Museum will be located at the site in addition to the Walker County Storm Shelter.

Brothers Construction has started ground work for the storm shelter which is scheduled to be completed in September 2008.

The county is in the process of seeking an engineer and architect for the museum.

“I’m so pleased,” said Charlotte Oleinik, HEARTS Veterans Museum operator, after the ceremony. “I learned a long time ago the key to success was to surround yourself with fabulous people and that is Huntsville — fabulous, patriotic people.”

County Judge Danny Pierce, county commissioners, county emergency management coordinator Butch Davis, county director of planning and development Andrew Isbell and members of the veterans museum joined in the groundbreaking.

Huntsville Mayor J. Turner read a proclamation recognizing Sept. 11 and the two projects.

“Today is a good day,” Isbell said. “There was a lot of work put into this, but the event is what it’s all about — seeing everyone enjoy it.”

A statue entitled “Freedom” was donated and unveiled by the Sigma Chi chapter at Sam Houston State University in honor of those who lost their lives fighting for our country.

“This statue represents an intense spirit of bravery,” said Rob Howard, a SHSU and Sigma Chi alumni. “It will remind people that freedom comes at a price and it’s the blood of patriots.”

Wreaths were also hung by representatives from the veterans museum, the Walker County Sheriff’s Department, the Huntsville Police Department, the Walker County Fire Department and the University Police Department during the ceremony.

State Sen. Steve Ogden and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, who secured a $2 million grant for the construction of the new museum, addressed the crowd with sentiments reflecting the events of Sept. 11, the ongoing war on terror, as well as the service of Walker County.

“I couldn’t be more proud to represent Walker County,” Kolkhorst said. “I love the people and the character of this community.

“It is so fitting today that we break ground for an evacuation center and for a museum that honors these veterans. It truly is the heart and soul of Walker County — they are always ready to serve their community, state and country.”

Many veterans present at the ceremony have been with the HEARTS Veterans Museum since it began in 1995.

Col. John Airola, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 32 years, said the ceremony was a very emotional event.

“I thought there was a good turn out and it was fitting for the occasion today,” Airola said.

Barney Driscol, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force, said it was gratifying to see the support the museum received from the people and the University.

“The Huntsville people really take the museum to heart,” Driscol said.

The ceremony also honored present military veterans and the memory of fallen heroes through the music of the Huntsville Men’s Choir and a solo by Jon Sheptock, recently crowned “Huntsville Idol.”

A reception followed the ceremony at the Texas Prison Museum Conference Room.