More than 150 people including employees, business associates, community leaders and family members gathered for the service held at B-K Lighting’s manufacturing facility in Madera, California on Friday, September 9, 2011.

The event opened with a presentation of the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by local Boy Scout Troop 223.

“We are here today to honor all of those who have given so much to secure our freedom, said Douglas W. Hagen, President of B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination. “For ten years now, we have met on this date to bestow honor on our heroes. I know each and every one joins me in that sentiment.” One of these heroes is Glen Smoke, a retired United States Marine Corp Corporal who served three tours of Duty in Iraq. During Friday’s ceremony, Corporal Smoke related stories from the front lines and revealed why he volunteered for those assignments in Operation: Iraqi Freedom.

“Always remember the falling buildings, the falling people, the rubble of the Twin Towers on 9/11,” said Smoke. “But what sticks out in my mind is those heroes who went into the buildings and made a difference.” To honor heroes like Corporal Smoke, B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination issued a commemorative Challenge Coin bearing a special 9/11 insignia. These coins were given to all active and retired members of the miliary attending the event, including several B-K Lighting + TEKA Illumination employees. Two other speakers, Boy Scout Grant Der Manouel and Madera County Supervisor Frank Bigelow, also gave persepective on how our lives changed since that fateful day ten years ago.

B-K Lighting and its employees have supported many memorials around the country, donated to support groups and supplied our military personnel with gifts on a monthly basis, including:

New Jersey 9/11 Memorial, Jersey City, NJ: B-K Lighting developed custom LED light fixtures to illuminate the new memorial which will be dedicated on September 10, 2011.

Flight 93 Memorial, Union City, CA: B-K lighting donated Precision2® fixtures that uplight each marker with the name of each hero who helped to bring down Flight 93, thus averting an additional tragedy.

Memorial Park, New York, NY: B-K Lighting designed and manufactured custom fixtures for the former Zuccotti Park, where the 9/11 ceremonies are held annually.

The Sphere, Battery Park, New York, NY: B-K Lighting fixtures illuminate a sculpture salvaged from the courtyard of the Twin Towers.

Employees of B-K Lighting, TEKA Illumination, Star Finishes, Blue Dolphin Design & Engineering and Etendue Café pledge to “never forget.”

ABOUT B-K LIGHTING
Since 1984, B-K Lighting has provided the highest quality, most innovative and fairly priced outdoor architectural lighting fixtures available in the industry. B-K Lighting manufactures path lights, sign lights, area lights, flood lights, recessed building mounted and in-grade lighting fixtures. Our custom lighting designs and solid-state lighting products are installed in high-end residential, corporate office and landmark applications around the world. www.bklighting.com