(STURGIS) - Everyone can remember where they were at when they heard about the attacks against the Unites States on September 11, 2001.
Sturgis Mayor Frank Perez says he was at work as Human Resources Director for TH Plastics when he heard about the attacks. He was a member of the U.S. Army and his commanding officer called and told him to be on stand-by as they could be called to duty. Perez says he told his boss that he may have to go if called.
Perez says he received another call later saying that they would only take volunteers.
Perez says he saw several of his Army buddies volunteer to go to New York, and then many went overseas, but several didn't come home alive. Perez says he often thought about why it was his friends and not him coming home in body bags. (LISTEN ABOVE).
Perez says despite the climate in the United State currently, it is still the best country to live in and he is glad of his service, and the service of others at that time and since.