Patriot Day Ceremony in Crestline this year

The City of Mountain Brook will host the annual Patriot Day ceremony held by the Cities of Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Homewood.

Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire College and a 24-year veteran in the public safety profession, will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and will last about 45 minutes.

Abrielle Mullins, a rising country singer and daughter of Mountain Brook EMS Division Director Chris Mullins, will sing the national anthem, and Jacqueline Barnwell will sing “America the Beautiful.”

Mayor Terry Oden will also speak, and Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza and Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer will be a part of the event.

This year’s ceremony will focus on dedicating the Sept. 11 monument. The program will also recognize city employees who have served in military.

A laying of the wreath and a bell ceremony will be part of the lineup.

The ceremony will take place next to the memorial at the intersection of Hoyt Lane and Oak Street by the library and fire department in Crestline Village.

“I think [the ceremony] will cause people to pause and will be meaningful to people who are part of the ceremony and those who attend,” Mountain Brook Fire Chief Ezekiel said.

Refreshments will be available in the library conference room before the ceremony starting at 7:30 a.m., and JAMM Entertainment will play music as well.

Boy Scout Troop 320 will post the colors, and members of the Mountain Brook High School choir will perform with Barnwell as a part of ceremony.

“We wanted this year to be different,” Ezekiel said. “[Dedicating the beam] is such a special thing to us.”