How the 21st anniversary of 9/11 is being commemorated in the Tri-Cities
Tri-Citians are invited to join in commemorating the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at the Southridge Sports and Events Complex on Sunday.
The ceremony will be in front of a 3-ton, 35-foot-tall piece of steel from the World Trade Center that’s located at the park, at 2901 Southridge Blvd. It was installed and dedicated in the lead up to the 10th anniversary.
The four coordinated terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 killed 2,977 people from 93 nations. The event led the U.S. directly into the Afghanistan War — America’s “longest war.”
“We encourage everyone to visit at his or her convenience to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001,” wrote Kennewick public relations manager Evelyn Lusignan in an email. “We appreciate the opportunity to join our community in paying respects to those who sacrificed their lives and continue to do so for our safety, security and freedom. We will never forget!”
The memorial will be open all day, and the Tri-Cities Professional Firefighters Honor Guard will perform a ceremony at the park to remember key moments:
- 6:30 a.m. — Presentation of the colors/posting of the guard
- 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 8:30 — Changing of the guard
- 8:46 — Changing of the guard and moment of silence for Flight 11 (North Tower)
- 9:03 — Changing of the guard and moment of silence for Flight 175 (South Tower)
- 9:37 — Changing of the guard and moment of silence for Flight 77 (Pentagon) and Flight 93 (Shanksville)
- 9:59 — Changing of the guard and bell ring for the South Tower collapse
- 10:28 — Changing of the guard and bell ring for the North Tower collapse
- 11:02 — Final honors/honor guard exit (orders given to evacuate Manhattan)
The city plans to organize “expanded commemorations” every five years, with the next one marking the 25th anniversary in 2026.
Kennewick was one of only a few communities nationwide that received a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. Lampson International worked with the city and port authorities of New York and New Jersey to create and transfer the monument.
This story was originally published September 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
