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MARIETTA -- Local veterans organizations and Marietta College will hold separate events Sept. 11 to mark the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
A morning ceremony organized by area veterans groups will begin at 8:43 a.m. at the Marietta levee. Bryan Reeder, commander of the Marine Corps Veterans Association's Mid-Ohio Valley Platoon, said attendees should be in place by about 8:30 a.m.
Before the ceremony, a procession of approximately 20 to 30 emergency vehicles will travel from Reno along Pike, Greene and Front streets with their emergency lights activated.
The ceremony will include five speakers, including the mayors of Marietta and Williamstown, as well as an unannounced special guest speaker. It is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.
A bell will toll at four times corresponding with the attacks: 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck the World Trade Center's north tower; 9:03 a.m., when the second plane struck the south tower; 9:37 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon; and 10:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The West Virginia Air National Guard is expected to conduct a flyover during or immediately after the national anthem. The Marietta Fire Department also plans to display an American flag from its tower truck at the Williamstown boat ramp.
The ceremony will conclude with a rifle salute, echo taps performed by two buglers and a bagpipe performance of "Amazing Grace." Dennis Blouser also is expected to conduct a jet flyover following the bagpipe performance.
"Every Washington County military organization is involved," Reeder said.
Participating groups include the Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Veterans Association, several American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, Disabled American Veterans and Belpre Area Veterans. The cities of Marietta and Williamstown, the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival and the Elks also are involved.
The Elks will provide food and refreshments after the ceremony, Reeder said.
Marietta College will hold its community-wide commemoration from 3 to 6 p.m. outside on campus. In the event of rain, activities will move to the Center for Appalachian Innovation, 508 Putnam St. The event is free and open to the public.
The college's commemoration, themed "Our Neighbors, Never Forgotten," will honor people from the region who died during or as a result of the attacks. Memorial yard signs recognizing those individuals will be displayed across campus and at service project sites, along with American flags placed in remembrance.
"We are a college deeply rooted in the Mid-Ohio Valley, and this 25th anniversary is meaningful to our entire community," said Jason Nulton, the college's director of Veteran and Military Services and associate director of Community Engagement. "This commemoration honors those lost from Ohio, West Virginia, and across our nation, as well as the service members who answered the call after that day."
Attendees will be able to write thank-you cards to active-duty military personnel, veterans and first responders and assemble care packages for people in need.
The event also will feature a new display designed by Marietta College student Kaira Gulett and created by the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers' Coalition.
The commemoration is part of the college's broader 9/11 Day initiative, which will involve the campus and surrounding community throughout September. The initiative is supported by grant funding from 9/11 Day, AmeriCorps and the Community Campus Coalition.
The initiative includes Change for Change, a student-led fundraising and awareness campaign focused on veterans' mental health, particularly in Appalachian communities where access to behavioral health resources may be limited. The campaign will continue through Sept. 25.
Students and community members also will participate in service projects with Marietta Morning Rotary, Marietta Noon Rotary, Belpre Rotary, GoPacks, the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and local fire departments.
Participants will include students from the Washington County Career Center's Students Solving Problems group, Washington State College of Ohio, Marietta College, Marietta High School's Interact group and Williamstown High School's senior internship program.