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Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute to commemorate 22nd anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks

The annual Sept. 11 Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will take place at six Michigan locations

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

The Sept. 11  Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will be commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

This event has been held from sunrise to sunset on the plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (GRFPM) since Sept. 11, 2002.

In addition to the GRFPM location, the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will include activities at the Albion Legion Post 55, the Muskegon USS Silversides Submarine Museum and the USS LST 393 World War II landing ship, the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department, at the USS Edson located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City, and the Walter Sundquist Pavilion at Riley Park in Farmington.

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 Michigan Cross Roads Council BSA Facebook page.

Those unable to make the scheduled activities can still participate by sharing photos of themselves saluting the American flag (Courtesy, www.pxhere.com)

Events Schedule

GRAND RAPIDS: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

All events will be held outside. Those wishing to visit the museum must purchase tickets in advance at www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.

  • 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 honor 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.
  • The Scout Salute will begin at the opening at 7:18 a.m.
  • At 7:50 a.m. retired Firefighter Ken Chudy will share events of the day.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 8:46 a.m. for the South Tower.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 9:03 a.m. for the North Tower.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 9:37 a.m. for the Pentagon.
  • GRFD will ring the bell at 10:03 a.m. for United Airline Flight 9.
  • 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 the event at sundown (8 p.m.).

ALBION:

  • At American Legion Post 55 in Albion activities will run from 4:30-6p.m.
  • A short program will be held during which 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 lives lost on Sept. 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 will be 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.

Wounded Warriors and Flag to be Escorted into Grand Rapids by Police, Fire and Motorcyclists

veteranflagIn honor of those who sacrificed their lives during the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001, the exhibit 9/11: A Day That Changed America, on loan from the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City, and a rescue vehicle used following the attacks, on loan from the Henry Ford Museum, will be on display at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (GRFPM) in downtown Grand Rapids. The exhibits will be on display as part of the 14th annual Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute on Sept. 11, 2015.

In addition, Wounded Warriors from the West Michigan region, and the flag that will be flown at the museum during the commemoration, will be escorted into Grand Rapids by fire and police personnel, and more than 200 motorcyclists. Several other events are scheduled during the commemoration.

For the 14th year, the President Ford Council, Boy Scouts of America will lead the West Michigan community in a day-long “Scout Salute” at the GRFPM on Sept. 11 to pay respect to all those who died during the terrorist attacks. The day of remembrance has been held annually from sunrise to sunset since Sept. 11, 2002, at the GRFPM and has been supported by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation each year.

September 11“Each year the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute are commemorated here in Grand Rapids so children and their families have the opportunity to learn about the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001,” Joe Calvaruso, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation said. “This year’s events and exhibits allow the West Michigan community to honor and remember all those who gave their lives because of the terrorist attacks 14-years-ago.”

To honor the arrival of the flag that will be flown during the Scout Salute, during the afternoon of Sept. 10, Wounded Warriors, members of various police and fire departments, the Patriot Guard Riders, members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group and the Boy Scouts of America will escort the flag to the GRFPM from the National Guard Armory located in Belmont, Mich. Upon the flag’s arrival to the museum at 5 p.m., it will be raised during a ceremony which is open to the public.

During evening ceremonies on Sept. 11, SpartanNash will present a personalized Honor and Remember flag to the parents of Army Specialist 4th Class Brian K. Derks, who was killed in action August 13, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq.

“SpartanNash cares deeply for those who protect our families and defend our freedoms, and we are committed to ensuring that these brave men and women’s sacrifices and stories are not forgotten,” said Meredith Gremel, SpartanNash vice president, corporate affairs and communications. “The Honor and Remember flag pays tribute to all our soldiers who gave their lives in service to their country, paying the ultimate price for our freedoms.”

While the exhibits are on display in Grand Rapids, the GRFPM, located at 303 Pearl Street N.W., is free and open to the public to visit. The museum and exhibit will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 11.

The schedule of events for the day includes:

7:18 a.m. (sunrise) Scout Salute begins – the community is encouraged to participate at any time during the day

8:40 a.m. Honor Guard lowers flag from full- to half-staff

8:45 a.m. Moment of Silence and Remembrance

8:46 a.m. The Salute Bell will be rung one time for Tower 1 (the time the first plane hit the first tower)

8:50 a.m. Introduction of speaker Mayor George Heartwell

9:03 a.m. The Salute Bell will be rung one time for Tower 2

9:37 a.m. The Salute Bell will be rung one time for the Pentagon

10:03 a.m. The Salute Bell will be rung one time for United Airlines Flight 93

Noon Ceremony to honor Police, Fire, EMS and Military members

12:30-2 p.m. Canine unit demonstration, meet and greet at Ah-Nab-Awen Park

7 p.m. Evening ceremonies begin
· Performance by The Salvation Army Brass Band
· SpartanNash Honor and Remember flag presentation
· Remarks from keynote speaker Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley
· Remarks from Boy Scout Council President Wayman Britt
· The final salute and the flag being raised to full-staff

8 p.m. (sunset) Scout Salute closes