GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute are scheduled for Sept. 11 in downtown Grand Rapids.
Other commemorative events will be taking place that day in Muskegon, Albion, Traverse City, Bay City and Farmington. They'll mark the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, which was Sept. 11, 2001.
Since Sept. 2002, the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute has been held annually from sunrise to sunset on the plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
If you cannot attend one of the ceremonies around the state, you can participate by sharing photos of yourself saluting, or by viewing the activities at the Michigan Cross Roads Council BSA Facebook page facebook.com/MichiganCrossroadsCouncil.
Here is more information from a news release provided by Seyferth PR:
GRAND RAPIDS:
· For the 22nd year, the community is invited to join the Michigan Crossroads Council, Boy Scouts of America as they lead the West Michigan community in a day-long “Scout Salute” at the GRFPM to pay respect to all those who died during the terrorist attacks.
· At sunrise and sunset color guards from the Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments will lower and raise the flag outside of the museum to commemorate the opening (7:18 a.m.) and closing (8 p.m.) of day’s events.
· At 5:30 p.m. the Salvation Army Band will perform.
· At 6 p.m. there will be a program featuring speakers Grand Rapids Police Chief Erick Winstrom, Grand Rapids Fire Chief Dr. Brad Brown, and Salvation Army Major Tim Meyer.
· The final salute will take place at 7:59 p.m. with Echo Taps closing of the event at sundown, which is 8 p.m.
ALBION:
- At American Legion Post 55 in Albion, Sept. 11 activities will run from 4:30-6p.m.
- A short program will be held while Scouts and members of the public are welcome to salute the flag at the Legion post.
MUSKEGON:
- At the USS Silversides a salute will coincide with Patriot Day activities from 4-5:30 p.m. At 4p.m. there will be a flyover and at 5:30 p.m. the engine of the Silversides will be started to pay tribute to those lives that were lost on September 11.
- At the USS LST 393 a program and salute will run from 6-8 p.m. with remarks being made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel at 6:30 p.m.
TRAVERSE CITY:
- At the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Station, a ceremony will begin with the Fire Honor Guard and Boy Scouts lowering flags to half-staff at 8:30 a.m. and will continue with Scouts and community members saluting the flag until 9 a.m..
BAY CITY:
- In Bay City, Scouts and the public are invited to honor those who died during the attacks of Sept. 11 at the USS Edson located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum beginning at 4 p.m. with a service starting at 5p.m.
FARMINGTON:
- Scouts and community members are encouraged to join activities sponsored by the Groves-Walker American Legion in Farmington. The event goes from 2:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in Downtown Farmington Center. During the ceremony, Officer of the Year honors will be presented to police officers, public safety officers and firefighters from Farmington and Farmington Hills.
Various activities from all locations will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCrossroadsCouncil.
The schedule of events for the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute on Sunday, September 11, 2023, at the GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM include:
(All Sept. 11 events will be held outside. Those wishing to visit the museum must purchase tickets in advance at www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov)
Community and Scouts continuously salute from sunrise to sunset.
7:15 a.m. Honor Guard lowers flag; GR Police
7:18 a.m. Scout Salute Begins
7:50 a.m. Share events of the day/close program; Retired Firefighter Ken Chudy
8:46 a.m. Ring Bell for South Tower; GR Fire
9:03 a.m. Ring Bell for North Tower; GR Fire
9:37 a.m. Ring Bell for Pentagon; GR Fire
10:03 a.m. Ring Bell for United Airline Flight 9; GR Fire
5:30 p.m. Salvation Army Band performs
6 p.m. Program; speakers include: Grand Rapids Police Chief Erick Winstrom, and Grand Rapids Fire Chief Dr. Brad Brown
6:45 p.m. Closing Benediction, Salvation Army Major Timothy Meyer
7:59 p.m. Final Salute with echo taps
8:00 p.m. Scout Salute Closes
Location addresses:
Grand Rapids: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Albion: Albion American Legion Post 55
1230 Edwards St, Albion, MI 49224
Muskegon: USS Silversides
1346 Bluff St, Muskegon, MI 49441
LST 393
560 Mart St, Muskegon, MI 49440
Traverse City: Grand Traverse Metro Fire Station
843 Industrial Cir, Traverse City, MI 49696
Bay City: USS Edson; Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum
1680 Martin St, Bay City, MI 48706
Farmington: Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park
33113 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48335