September 7th, 2011
San Marcos plans Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony

STAFF REPORT

Mayor Daniel Guerrero and the fire and police departments are hosting a remembrance ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. to honor the memory of the 3,000 people who died in the worst terrorist attack in the nation’s history.

The commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the tragic day will be held at the Fire Bell at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins. The public is invited to bring flowers that may be placed in the 9-11 Memorial Wreath beside the Fire Bell in front of City Hall.

The program will include an Honor Guard of San Marcos Firefighters and Police, a flag ceremony, tolling of the bell, reading of a proclamation by Mayor Guerrero and a moment of silence.

Each year on this date, the San Marcos Fire Department conducts a flag ceremony using the U.S. flag that flew over San Marcos City Hall on September 11, 2001.

Sunday’s ceremony commemorates those who lost their lives on the hijacked American Flight 11, United Flight 175, American Flight 77, and United Flight 93, and the firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, citizens, and volunteers who died when the towers burned and crumbled, and those who died in the heroic rescue efforts.

At 8:45 a.m. American Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. In the ensuing terrorist attacks, a second hijacked aircraft, Flt. 175 struck the south tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan at 9:03 a.m., a third airplane, Flt 77 struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. at 9:43 a.m., and a fourth aircraft, Flt. 93 crashed in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. after passengers wrestled control from the hijackers. About 3,000 people died.