Woman Continues To Honor Those Killed On 9/11

In the months after September 11th, 2001 patriotism was everywhere.  You didn't have to look very hard to find flags and red, white and blue colors.  Since then, open displays of patriotism are not as widespread.   The News On 6's Rick Wells reports there is a woman at Sapulpa's John Christner Trucking who still sports the colors every Tuesday.

Jessie Thiel works at John Christner Trucking in Sapulpa where, among other things, she pays the bills and does the payroll.

"Everybody likes me on Friday mornings," said Jessie Thiel.

And, she wears red, white and blue to work every Tuesday.

"I probably have six sweaters.  Some that are red and white striped I can wear with a blue scarf," said Jessie Thiel.

When the World Trade Center towers came down on September 11^th, 2001, patriotism went up all over the country.

"The Tuesday right after it I felt like we should do something to honor the people who had lost their lives and the people that was working so hard on the whole things," said Jessie Thiel.

Wearing red white and blue was it, and she's done it every Tuesday since.  Not only her, there are a couple of other employees in the red, white and blue club with her.

They've all found summer a good time to build their wardrobes.

"Around the 4^th of July in June everyone comes out with a bunch of things," said Jessie Thiel.

She says there have been times when she thought she'd give it up.  People may have forgotten why she started in the first place, but the statement she's making is just too important.

"There's not a lot I can do here for the people that lost family.  It's my way of paying tribute to everyone," said Jessie Thiel.

Jessie wears small, brightly colored feathers in her hair to honor her mother.  On Tuesdays, the feathers are red, white and blue.

Find more stories on NewsOn6.com's Local News page.