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As our local communities look to hold remembrance ceremonies to honor the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, we thought we’d put together a list of some of the events around the area. Do you know of a ceremony in your town that’s not listed here? Feel free to message us on Facebook at 101.3 WMCI and we will be sure to add it here…
To start, Eastern Illinois University will begin its observance at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, September 10th,) when the Student Veterans of Eastern organization, along with veteran faculty and staff, place approximately 300 American flags on the University’s front lawn, with each flag representing about 10 lives lost that day. The display will remain in place through Friday’s anniversary observance, when EIU and Charleston community members can gather near the University flagpole at 9 a.m. for a brief remembrance that includes reflections, a moment of silence, and time for attendees to honor those lost and those who responded.
In Mattoon, a remembrance ceremony will take place Friday at 7:30 a.m. at Heritage Park in downtown Mattoon, with a moment of silence observed at 7:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the North Tower. A field of flags honoring the lives lost will be on display through Friday at 2 p.m., and organizers are looking for volunteers to help place the flags this evening starting at 4 p.m. Anyone able to help can contact Carolyn Cloyd at 217-235-4984. Organizers thanked TJ Hesse and the Mattoon Park & Recreation Department for their help coordinating the event.
LIFT Central Illinois will also honor the anniversary Friday by welcoming area first responders to stop by anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for free food and beverages provided by the LIFT Culinary Program. Throughout the day, LIFT students and staff will take part in the annual 9/11 Stair Climb Challenge, a way to honor the 2,977 lives lost on September 11, 2001.
The Effingham Fire Department will hold an all-day tribute Friday, flying a massive American “garrison” flag 50 feet in the air using one of its ladder trucks. Crews will stand outside the stations for formal salutes and moments of silence at 8:59 a.m. and 9:28 a.m., marking the collapses of the South and North Towers, and the public is invited to join firefighters at the flagpoles for the observance. Effingham’s remembrance continues into the weekend with a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb and Walk on Saturday, September 12th, from 5 to 9 p.m., an “Under the Lights” event coordinated through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation that honors the 343 FDNY firefighters who died that day.
Again, we know this isn’t a complete list so help us get it there!
- EIU (Charleston) – Flag display begins 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, on the front lawn; remembrance ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, near the university flagpole.
- Heritage Park (Mattoon) – Remembrance ceremony Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 a.m., with a moment of silence at 7:46 a.m.; flag display up Friday through 2 p.m. Volunteers needed Thursday at 4 p.m. to help place flags (contact Carolyn Cloyd, 217-235-4984).
- Effingham Fire Department Stations – All-day tribute Friday, Sept. 11, with garrison flag raised via ladder truck; formal salutes and moments of silence at 8:59 a.m. and 9:28 a.m.
- Effingham County 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & Walk – Saturday, Sept. 12, 5–9 p.m., “Under the Lights” climb honoring the 343 FDNY firefighters lost.
- LIFT Central Illinois – Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., free food for first responders plus the annual 9/11 Stair Climb Challenge.
- Mattoon YMCA/Neal Center – Friday, Sept. 11, ALL DAY – in both lobbies, at least 2 climbers over the course of the day for “9/11 Memorial Challenge”
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