After five years, the immediate horror of Sept. 11, 2001, may have faded but the lives lost and the threat of terror are still uppermost in the minds of local residents.

The anniversary, proclaimed by President Bush as Patriot Day, will be marked with services across the country, including a balloon release planned by West Limestone High School cheerleaders.

“We felt we needed to do something,” said Lunetta Reyer, sponsor of the varsity squad. “We sat around and talked about it and we felt the time was right.”

Reyer said relatives of many West Limestone High students are in the military and are serving overseas. “We felt like it was a good time to recognize them,” she said.

Students and faculty are encouraged to wear red, white and blue. They will meet on the football field to release red, white and blue balloons at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center.

A local business is remembering the rescue workers killed or injured on Sept. 11 by recognizing local emergency workers.

Shiree Redus with First Cash Express on Grace Avenue said employees will take cakes to Athens Police Department, Athens Fire Department, Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and emergency medical technicians at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

President Bush directed that flags be flown at half-staff at federal buildings Monday.

On Friday, Gov. Bob Riley ordered flags above the State Capitol and other state office buildings to be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of 9/11.

“We will always remember the thousands of innocent Americans who died on Sept. 11, but we also will always be inspired by the extraordinary heroism of our first responders and other Americans we witnessed that day,” Riley said. “As we pause to reflect on Monday about the events five years ago, let us pray for those who lost their lives, the grieving families they left behind, and the safety of our country and all those who serve it.”

Riley also encouraged local governments throughout the state to lower their flags to half staff. Mayor Dan Williams and Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert said flags at city and county offices will be lowered in observance of the day.