We will each be remembering the tragic anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in our own personal ways, but there are a few public events in Harford County this weekend to help with the commemoration.
A memorial of 2,977 American flags, representing each life lost in the attacks, and a steel beam from the World Trade Center has been on display at Bel Air High School; a flag raising ceremony will be held in Aberdeen to coincide with the exact time the first jet impacted the World Trade Center 10 years ago; and a pair of state delegates will hold their annual flag waving to passersby on I-95 in Joppa.
[Note: The Bel Air High School display was closed for this weekend when Harford County Public Schools cancelled all weekend activities in school facilities. A new open house date is being rescheduled]
Bel Air High School Displays 2,977 Flags – One For Each Life Lost In Terrorist Attacks
Bel Air High School is remembering September 11, 2001 on the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. A flag memorial of 2,977 flags, one flag to represent each life lost as a result of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, will be created in front of Bel Air High School. The flag memorial will be displayed from the morning of Thursday, September 8 to the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14. Also, Bel Air High School has obtained a steel beam from the World Trade Center. The artifact is currently on display in the Bel Air High School lobby in a showcase devoted to remembering 9-11. A permanent showcase for the 9-11 artifact will be built in the main hallway of Bel Air High School. An essay competition is being held at Bel Air High School to select two student essays reflecting on the 9-11 attacks, the war on terror, and the national mood ten years after the attacks. The winning essays will be announced at the end of the week and will permanently be displayed with the 9-11 artifact. Bel Air High School is holding an Open House on Saturday, September 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. for the community to come see the 9-11 flag memorial and the World Trade Center steel beam on display in the 9-11 showcase.
Christina McIntyre, a senior at Bel Air High School, president of the BAHS Student Government, and one of the students who is organizing the flag display, said:
“Our nation must never forget September 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks of 9-11 were an attack against all that America is and all that America stands for. 9-11 causes us to reflect on all that we are as a nation. It is a call for us to preserve and defend our great nation and to treasure and fight for our freedoms, for the liberty and justice that we are so privileged to have in America. On the tenth anniversary of 9-11, we hope to bring the Bel Air community together in remembrance of September 11, 2001 and to honor the many lives lost and affected by this tragic event.”
Aberdeen Ceremony to Coincide With Time the First Jet Hit World Trade Center
From the Aberdeen Police Department:
Ten years ago on September 11th our country was attacked and over 3,000 American civilians, firefighters, police officers and military personnel were killed. That day will be etched in our memories forever.
As a small tribute to the victims of the attack, the City of Aberdeen is having a short flag raising ceremony at City hall. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8:40 AM on Sunday September 11th and the 911 flag will be raised promptly at 8:46 AM to coincide with the time that the first jet hit the World Trade Center.
Please join Mayor Mike Bennett and other City employees us on Sunday morning for this brief ceremony and tribute.
Dels. McDonough and Impallaria Host 10th Anniversary Annual 9-11 Tribute – Public Welcome
From the office of Del. Pat McDonough:
Delegate Pat McDonough and Delegate Rick Impallaria, along with volunteer firefighters and community groups, will host a flag-waving remembrance tribute to the victims and families of 9-11. This is the 10th Anniversary of that tragic day in New York City.
The annual event is open to the public and will take place on the Route 152 overpass at Interstate 95. There will be plenty of free parking at the Park and Ride on Mountain Road (Route 152).
Delegate McDonough stated, “We encourage people to bring their families, friends, and flags on Sunday, Sept. 11th from 2 to 4 in the afternoon.”
Mikulski, Schumer, Cochran Encourage Colleagues To Commemorate 10th Anniversay Of September 11 With National Day Of Service And Remembrance
From the office of Senator Barbara Mikulski:
U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Chuck Schumer (D-Ny.), and Thad Cochran (R-Ms.) this week encouraged their bipartisan Senate colleagues to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a National Day of Service and Remembrance. The Senators encouraged all Americans to participate in a charitable service on September 11 and to visit serve.gov or challenge.gov to post their charitable service plans.
“The horrible attacks of September 11, 2001 may have broken our hearts, but they did not break our spirit,” Senator Mikulski said. “Our nation was united with a sense of national purpose and national unity and I hope that we can again reclaim that spirit through volunteerism and service to our communities and our country in honor of those we lost and those whose service saved so many on that fateful day.”
“September 11th should not only be a day for mourning – it should be a day to think about our neighbors, our community, and our country,” Senator Schumer said. “By making 9-11 a day of service, we can take a tragic day in our nation’s history and turn it into a force for good. We can make it a day on which we can give back in remembrance of those who lost their lives.”
“Offering one’s time and talents to others is a laudable way to remember the lost and honor those hurt by the terrorist attacks perpetrated on us a decade ago. The resilient spirit of the American people and the unwavering bravery of our Armed Forces and first responders, ensured that we would emerge stronger and more secure from that terrible blow. The National Day of Service and Remembrance gives us new opportunities to personally contribute to the ongoing work to build a better nation,” Senator Cochran said.
Senators Mikulski, Schumer, and Cochran co-sponsored the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009, which established a National Day of Service and Remembrance to annually pay tribute to and remember the victims and survivors of September 11, as well as the heroic actions of first responders, recovery workers, volunteers and members of our Armed Forces. Mikulski and Cochran are also the bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate National Service Caucus.
The full text of the Senators’ letter is below:
September 8, 2011
Dear Colleague:
In a few days our nation will observe the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. We would like to encourage you, your staff and your constituents to join the millions of Americans who will be commemorating this solemn and important day through charitable service.
As you know, in 2009 the United States Congress, with strong bipartisan, bi-cameral support, formally authorized the recognition of September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under federal law. The purpose was to create a permanent, forward-looking and voluntary way for all Americans to pay tribute to and remember the 9/11 victims and survivors, and those who rose in service in response to the terrorist attacks including first responders, recovery workers, 9/11 volunteers and members of our military.
Individuals chose for themselves how they want to pay tribute, through charitable service, good deeds, reflection or prayer.
For the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, the President has issued a challenge to nonprofit organizations across the country to work together to organize the largest day of charitable service in U.S. History. We encourage you to support and build awareness of this effort by visiting challenge.gov or serve.gov and to post your charitable services plans for 9/11. We further encourage you to share this important information with your constituents.
We urge you to support and build awareness of this effort by visiting http://911day.org or http://Facebook.com/911day and post your charitable service plans for 9/11. We also ask that you share this important information with your constituents.
The 10-year anniversary of 9/11 will be an important moment in our nation’s history. Your support and participation will help inspire countless individuals to remember and pay tribute through positive actions that help others in need. Thank you for supporting this inspiring and patriotic observance.
Sincerely,
Barbara Mikulski
United States Senator
Chuck Schumer
United States Senator
Thad Cochran
United States Senator
Would you kindly quit referring to 911 as a “tragic” event? It was no such thing. It was an act of war. A school bus running off a cliff and killing 50 children would be a tragic event. Learn the meaning of words, please.
9-11 was most certainly a tragic event. A tragedy is marked by great sorrow and suffering, a dreadful event. Yes, 9-11 was an act of war. And war epitomizes tragedy. 9-11 brought great sorrow to our nation as we mourned the loss of so many lives. We mourned the innocent souls who died as a result of this terrorist attack, we mourned the many courageous men and women who lost their lives to save those who they never did or never would know. We suffered this loss together as a nation. We also will remember this loss, and this attack, together as a nation. The sorrows of tragedy assume innumerable forms. The form of the tragedy of 9-11, ruthless attacks on our freedom that took the lives of so many Americans, will never be forgotten.