It’s been 20 years since the events of 9/11 changed our country. Every year we mourn the loss of 2,977 lives and devastation of landmarks in New York and Washington D.C. on this solemn autumn anniversary. This year, the community is invited to gather with the City of Lacey and Gateway Rotary Club of Thurston County in remembrance and tribute to all that was lost two decades ago.
The memorial event will take place on Saturday, September 11, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. outside The Hub in Lacey. “Gateway Rotary Club is excited for the opportunity to partner with the City of Lacey for this important community event,” shares Nate Peters, Gateway Rotary Club president-elect and event lead. “We were all impacted in some way from the tragedy 20 years ago, and many of our Rotary Club members and family members are Veterans.”
The event is free and open to the public. Masks and social distancing will be in effect at the outdoor event, per mandate. The United States Air National Guard will perform an honor guard flag-folding ceremony and representatives from Lacey’s Police Department, Fire District 3, and City Council will speak at the event. “Fire District 3 will have their ladder truck on site, with a large American Flag on display for the event,” says Jenny Bauersfeld, community relations specialist with the city. In addition, Gateway Rotary Club partnered with a local nonprofit, True Responders, to bring in country music artist Nick Nicholson to perform at the event. True Responders is a local nonprofit that empowers first responders to meet the urgent and immediate needs of those in crisis through financial and volunteer support.
“The City of Lacey is proud to host a community event to honor the fallen of 9/11 and remember the lives lost from this tragic event,” said Bauersfeld. “Our City is home to many first responders and military families, and we want them to feel our support on this historic day. This event will provide an opportunity for the community to honor and remember the victims and the first responders who gave their lives to help others during this tragic event.”
Can’t attend? Consider taking a virtual tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s 20 Years Later exhibit. That and other historical exhibits hosted by the Museum are available online as well as educational programs for visitors of all ages. There are also activities to do at home for youth and their families. These allow for hands on, conversation starting ways to discuss the day with your children.
Gateway Rotary Club of Thurston County is a local service organization consisting of community leaders, small business owners, and members from all aspects of business. They work to share industry news, get involved and participate in service activities like the 20th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Community Event in Lacey. You can follow their calendar of speakers and events online or via their Facebook page.
Find more news and events sponsored by the City of Lacey on their event page or Facebook page. The Hub is located at 676 Woodland Square Loop SE and easily accessed via bus at the nearby Lacey Transit Center. You can share the event with friends and family via it’s Facebook event listing. In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s easy to forget something that happened 3,000 miles away, twenty years ago. But set aside 30 minutes to come remember, mourn, and honor those who lost their lives on that day.
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