GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The annual 9/11 Community Day of Remembrance & Scout Salute in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and other communities around the state will commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
It has been held annually from sunrise to sunset since September 11, 2002 on the plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. That is the main site.
Honorary co-chairs of this year’s commemoration include: Col. James F. Grady II, director, Michigan State Police; Kevin J. Sehlmeyer, Michigan State Fire Marshall; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjunct general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
“The Michigan State Police is honored to join this observance reflecting on our first responders, military members and those who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “We shall never forget the sacrifices made.”
Aaron Gach is the deputy scout executive for Scouting America's Michigan Crossroads Council. He told WOOD Radio they are honored to help community members take a few minutes out of their day to remember and reflect the lives lost on 9/11, and those who responded on that fateful day.
"It's a good chance to honor and remember there are men and women in our law enforcement, fire service, EMS and military who are still putting on uniforms every day to serve us," Gach said.
The commemoration also will include activities by the Albion Legion Post 55 at the Riverside Cemetery; the USS Edson, which is located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City; in Farmington, at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion in Riley Park; in Muskegon, at the USS LST 393 World War II landing ship; Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post; at Young Patriots Park in Riverview; and in Traverse City, at the Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority.
To learn more specifics about the activities at each site, you can visit this website. Organizations also can register as an official satellite salute site on that webpage, as well.
"Or, if you can't make those two things work, you can participate from anywhere in the world. Just take a few minutes out of your day to silently remember and salute the American flag in remembrance. And post your participation on one of our social media channels to engage with the rest of the community in this day of remembrance," Gach said.
Those who cannot make it to the activities scheduled around the state of Michigan, can participate by sharing photos of themselves saluting or by viewing the activities at the Scouting America Michigan Crossroads Council Facebook page facebook.com/MichiganCrossroadsCouncil. Various activities from all locations will be live streamed on the Facebook page. Details regarding locations can be found at www.michiganscouting.org/911salute.
"The nice part about the social channels is that all of our different items throughout the day are going to be livestreamed, and then catalogued there so you can actually go back to them and watch them at any time," Gach said.
The ceremony at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum will kick off with the American flag being moved to half-staff at sun-up. That will be followed with a bell-ringing ceremony at 8:46 a.m., the time when the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex was struck in 2001.
The evening program will begin with several guest speakers, followed by some music.
"The Salvation Army Band playing some wonderful live, patriotic music. And all throughout the entire day - sunup to sundown - that main hub site at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is open for folks to stop by and participate in the Remembrance Salute," Gach said.
The CEO of the Boy Scouts of America in Michigan, representatives from the offices of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Senator Gary Peters, and a major from the Salvation Army in Grand Rapids all will be attending the evening event at the Ford Presidential Museum.
"You'll certainly here from one of our honorary chairs, the fire marshal of the State of Michigan, Kevin Sehlmeyer," Gach said. "So, it's going to be a rich program of short speakers on different topics. You'll also have the patriotic music live from the Salvation Army Band, and a closing Taps at sundown."
The events are all free to attend and you do not need to pre-register for any of them.
Below is a list of official event locations and details:
ALBION:The American Legion Post 55 in Albion, Sept. 11 activities will run from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery. A short program will be held while Scouts and members of the public are welcome to salute the flag at the Riverside Cemetery, 1301 S. Superior St.
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 from 10 a.m.- 4p.m.
FARMINGTON:Scouts and community members are encouraged to join activities sponsored by the Groves-Walker American Legion in Farmington. The event goes from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in Downtown Farmington Center.
MUSKEGON:At the USS LST 393 a program and salute will run from 6-8 p.m.
PAW PAW:The Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post will commemorate the day at their post from 8 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. at 43255 60th Avenue.
RIVERVIEW:From 4 p.m.-8p.m. a commemoration will be held at the Young Patriots Park in Riverview. Col. James F. Grady II, director, Michigan State Police will attend at 4:30 p.m. Scouts and community members are encouraged to participate in a salute. The park is located at 14300 Sibley Road, Riverview, Michigan.
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.
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 Police7:18 a.m. Scout Salute Begins 7:50 a.m. Share events of the day/close program; Retired Firefighter Ken Chudy8:46 a.m. Ring Bell for South Tower; GR Fire9:03 a.m. Ring Bell for North Tower; GR Fire9:37 a.m. Ring Bell for Pentagon; GR Fire10:03 a.m. Ring Bell for United Airline Flight 9; GR Fire5:30 p.m. Salvation Army Band performs 6:10 p.m. Program begins 6:45 p.m. Closing Benediction, Salvation Army Major Timothy Meyer7:59 p.m. Final Salute with echo taps8:00 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 Riverside Cemetery, 1301 S. Superior St. Bay City: USS Edson; Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum1680 Martin St, Bay City, MI 48706 Farmington: Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park 33113 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48335 Muskegon: LST 393 560 Mart St, Muskegon, MI 49440 Paw Paw: Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post 43255 60th Ave., Paw Paw, MI 49079 Riverview: Young Patriots Park 14300 Sibley Rd., Riverview, Mi 48193 Traverse City: Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services 897 Parsons Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686