by David Volz
It has been 15 years since the terrorist attacks took place on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania; the vivid memories of that day still live on. The 9/11 attacks were the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history. Nineteen men hijacked four U.S. commercial airplanes heading for west coast destinations. Two of the airplanes were crashed into the World Trade Center, in New York; one was crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and one was taken over by passengers and crew and crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks and about 6,000 were injured.
September 11th is on a Sunday this year, and Parkland will have a ceremony open to the public, beginning at 8:30am, for about 30 minutes at Parkland City Hall. The ceremony will include lowering the flags to half-staff, a moment of silent reflection, the playing of bagpipes, the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department Honor Guard, and some remarks from the Mayor. Then at 8:46am a siren will sound marking the moment the first airplane crashed into the World Trade Center.
Coral Springs will honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 with a Remembrance 5K Run/Walk that will begin on Saturday, September 10th at 7:00am, at the Northwest Regional Library. Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for students 19 and younger, and $20 for emergency service personnel. Participant will receive a finisher medal and T-shirt.
Coral Springs will have a ceremony outside the Northwest Regional Library on September 11th at 2:00pm, followed by a program inside the Charter School Auditorium.
If you happen to be in New York City, you can participate in a ceremony at Ground Zero. It will be marked with four minutes of silence to observe the times when each plane hit and each tower fell, beginning at 8:46am. At the nearby St. Paul’s Chapel, there will be morning bell services followed by Prayers for Peace and the ringing of the Bell of Hope in memory of 9/11.
The National 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 11th, 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the attacks in a ceremony for the victim’s families. This memorial includes the nation’s largest man-made waterfalls cascading into two sunken pools. These pools mark the footprints of the Twin Towers. The names of 2,980 victims have been carved in granite around the edges of the memorial. The 9/11 Memorial Museum includes artifacts from 9/11 events including personal items from survivors and the deceased donated by their families.
