Speech Delivered by Fred Kosmo During Memorial Service

Farmers are the stewards of the land. They take care of it. But I saw farmers here who reacted magnificently on Wednesday.

That car went through and I saw them go, not knowing whether that was a terrorist or a crazy or a drug demented person, without any regard for themselves, surprised to find an old man. Saw them lifting a car off an injured woman. I saw them jump and then get a pulse from a man on the car and work and try to save him.

There were many bodies, distorted, injured, and they worked as fast as they could. We were fortunate that the response from the police in blue, the police in tan and green from the Sheriff, the medics, the helicopter pilots, the ambulance drivers came, and we give thanks for the aid that they rendered and to see that they saved lives. (applause)

We say thank you for that. Our prayers go out to the families of those who died. We hope that the memories of those lives will be cherished. We pray that those who were injured and maimed will live and have a recovery from their injuries. (Puts speech down and looks at crowd.)

I was in Marine Corp, there weren’t many atheists there, and there weren’t many atheists on Wednesday. We hope and pray that there will be recoveries. This market has been a place of joy and happiness and goodness. No one expected that. We hope that in the future it will be that.