Three years after the tragic evens of Sept. 11, 2001, life in the United States is slowly getting back to normal, but local businessman and mayoral candidate Mike Grayson couldn’t let the anniversary go by without some kind of service.

“I didn’t know of anything going on in Demopolis or in the county to commemorate that day,” Grayson said. “That’s a pretty significant date in history and it would be a crime for it to go unnoticed.”

Grayson’s political campaign sponsored the event, but Grayson said that was simply where the money came from.

“This is not a political rally,” Grayson said. “That’s not the purpose.”

The event was attended by close to 100 people, who came together to enjoy hot dogs, music and a moving tribute to recognize those who died in the attacks and fighting the war against the terrorism that spearheaded those attacks.

“We recognized the Demopolis Fire Department, the EMTs, both policemen who showed up … we recognized the veterans and the mothers of soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Grayson said. “It was very tastefully done.”

Grayson said the event was received well and said it took place as he had hoped.

“I was very pleased. There were no politics involved, it was purely a remembrance – that was the purpose and I think it came off that way,” he said.