Ceremony marking 20-year anniversary of 9/11 taking place in Stephenville on Saturday.
Updated: Sep 8, 2021
Special to Beneath the Surface News
Tarleton State University, the city of Stephenville and Erath County are partnering on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 to commemorate the nation’s loss and resilience following the terrorist attacks that took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans.
Beginning with the ringing of the Stephenville Fire Department bell at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, the ceremony will pay tribute to 9/11 victims and their families, and honor the courage and sacrifice of first responders.
The event takes place at the Administration Mall (near the O.A. Grant Building and Alumni Island) on the Tarleton campus.
The community is invited to attend.
Tarleton President James Hurley will open the ceremony and Stephenville Police Chief Dan Harris will be the keynote speaker.
“Continued remembrance of 9/11 is a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy and sacrifice of those who lost their lives that day and the vigilance required to keep our nation safe,” Dr. Hurley said. “It is a time to remember that life is a gift and that true community is more than being geographically close. It’s being connected to something greater than ourselves.”
The Stephenville Fire Department and Tarleton’s Corps of Cadets will post colors and the Texan Troubadours will perform.
“We must never overlook the courage and sacrifice of the first responders who worked tirelessly to save more than 25,000 lives that day, or the thousands who died,” Harris said. “We must never forget.”
Free parking will be available in Lot 10 just off Lillian Street. Students in Tarleton Serves will assist.
A Field of Flags will fly at Tarleton’s O.A. Grant Amphitheater, recognizing the three firemen who raised the red, white and blue on a mangled pole amid the destruction at Ground Zero.
The display is open to the public Sept. 8-14.
