MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders invites all residents from across Morris County and neighboring counties to join them in observing the 17th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against our nation at the Morris County Remembers 9/11 Service on Sunday, September 9.
The ceremony will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Morris County September 11th Memorial on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills, across from the Morris View Healthcare Center and adjacent to the Morris County Public Safety Academy. It will be held rain or shine.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer and Chester resident Will Jimeno will be the keynote speaker.
Jimeno survived the World Trade Center attack in 2001 despite being buried in the rubble for 13 hours, along with fellow Port Authority officer Sgt. John McLoughlin, who also survived.
However, thirty-seven other Port Authority police officers lost their lives on that day.
“We gather at the county memorial each year on the anniversary of 9/11 to recall every single one of the nearly 3,000 innocent people who were lost to our nation that day, and that includes 64 of our Morris County residents, plus so many police, fire, EMT and other rescue workers,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.
“We want their families and friends to know their loved ones are not forgotten, that we will never forget their sacrifices.’’
The county’s 9/11 event will include a march with a color guard up West Hanover Avenue to the Memorial by police, fire, rescue and emergency personnel from across Morris County.“We have an obligation to remember what happened on that tragic day, to recall the lives that were lost and the long-lasting impact on the families, our towns and county, and our nation as a result of these attacks,’’ added Deputy Freeholder Director Christine Myers. “With that pain and sorrow comes lessons learned, which we can never forget.’’ she said.
The observance will include a special invocation, a lighting of candles, and reading of the names of each of the Morris County victims, plus a 21-gun salute, and keynote remarks.
Morris County’s September 11th Memorial pays tribute to all of those who died in the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., on September 11, 2001, with a special emphasis on the 64 victims from Morris County whose names are etched in plaques affixed to the Memorial.
The names of all of the nearly 3,000 people who died that day are engraved in ruby-colored paving stones that have been set in the ground as a walkway surrounding the Memorial.
Since seating at the Memorial is limited, the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the outdoor observance. Parking will be available at the Morris County Department of Human Services building at 340 West Hanover Avenue, Morris Township – directly across from the Academy. Shuttle buses will be available to transport those in need the short distance to the Memorial.
The freeholders also invite police and fire departments and rescue squads from across the county to participate by sending one apparatus per department and assembling at 3:45 p.m. at the Morris County Public Safety Academy, 500 West Hanover Avenue, Parsippany.
Following a private ceremony for first responders at the Academy, a procession will be held to the September 11th Memorial.
For more information click here.
