Communities throughout the Capital Region will observe the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with memorial ceremonies, dedications and special events.
Cities, towns and villages are setting aside time Sunday to remember those killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, near Washington. The men and women in the military who have lost their lives during the war on terror over the past decade are also being remembered in the ceremonies.
Churches of various denominations are joining together for special ecumenical services.
In Saratoga County, for example, all churches and other organizations are being asked to ring their bells at 8:46 a.m. Sunday. The bell-ringing will be preceded by a 30-second period of silence at the approximate time the first airliner hit the World Trade Center.
“We hope that everyone within our borders on September 11th will join us in remembering the thousands of lives cut short on that terrible day 10 years ago,” said Saratoga Supervisor Thomas N. Wood III, chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
Wood said the bell-ringing will occur in five phases of five rings each, because “when multiplied together, this number closely represents the number of lives lost as a result of the tragic events 10 years ago.”
The severe flooding in parts of the region, including Schenectady, Montgomery and Schoharie counties, may cause postponement of plans made before Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee swept through the region.
A list of events follows. Unless otherwise noted, the events below are on Sunday.
Albany County
• The New York State Museum in the Empire State Plaza will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. so the public can view the expanded, multifaceted exhibition on the 9/11 attacks called “Reflecting on September 11, 2001.” The exhibit is part of the “New York Remembers” program. The State Museum and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office organized this remembrance program, being observed at 30 locations across the state.
• The town of Colonie will hold a remembrance ceremony at 8:46 a.m. with a wreath-laying at the Colonie Police Department Memorial at the Public Safety Building at 312 Wolf Road.
• The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York will hold a national day of service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the food bank warehouse in Latham and the Patroon Land Farm in Voorheesville with volunteer opportunities for families, groups and individuals. A food drive will be held. People are encouraged to bring plastic jars of peanut butter and jelly, boxed macaroni and cheese, juice boxes and shelf-stable milk in 8-ounce boxes to the Food Bank.
• The College of Saint Rose and the greater interfaith community will hold a “Remembrance and Hope” prayer service at 3 p.m. at the Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary at the College of Saint Rose, 959 Madison Ave. in Albany.
• The College of Saint Rose will also host a talk by Vanderbilt University scholar Thomas A. Schwartz titled “Pain that Cannot Forget: 9/11 in Historical Perspective” at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Saint Joseph Hall Auditorium, 985 Madison Ave.
Fulton County
• A memorial ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Broadalbin-Kennyetto Firehouse at 14 Pine St. The ceremony will include the unveiling of a 9/11 memorial honoring the firefighters lost as well as the civilians, first responders and others in service who lost their lives 10 years ago. A candlelight ceremony and closing prayers will be conducted.
Montgomery County
• The city of Amsterdam will hold a memorial ceremony at 8 a.m. at Riverlink Park. The event will include a moment of silence at 8:26 a.m., the time that American Airlines Flight 11 turned south over the city of Amsterdam toward the north tower of the World Trade Center, Mayor Ann Thane said.
• Montgomery County emergency service personnel will hold a 9/11 remembrance service at the county office building in Fonda at 11 a.m. to pay their respects to firefighters and service personnel who died in the attacks.
Rensselaer County
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will hold a memorial service at 9 a.m. at the Rensselaer Union lawn at the corner of 15th Street and Sage Avenue. The rain location is in the Alumni Sports and Recreation Center. RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson is one of the featured speakers.
• The city of Troy will host a Celebration of Freedom memorial program at noon at Memorial Park at 112th Street and First Avenue.
Saratoga County
• The third annual Remembrance Day will be held at 10 a.m. at the War Memorial in Congress Park in Saratoga Springs attended by a color guard from the Korean War Veterans of America Chapter 60, Marine Memorial Detachment No. 2, and the Saratoga Springs Police and Fire departments. A plaque honoring Saratoga County residents killed when the World Trade Center was attacked as well as local soldiers killed during the subsequent wars will be dedicated.
• An ecumenical prayer service including representatives of nine churches and synagogues in Saratoga Springs will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
• The village of Ballston Spa will hold a commemoration program from 1 to 5 p.m. in Wiswall Park. The event will include guest speakers and music. Representatives of local fire, police, and emergency medical services departments will also attend the event, Mayor John Romano said.
• A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Stillwater Blockhouse Park on routes 4 and 32 in the village of Stillwater. Diane Moore Parsons, a native of Stillwater who was killed in the World Trade Center attack, will be remembered with the placing of a wreath in her honor by the Stillwater town and village boards.
• A “Time to Remember” service will be held at 7 p.m. in the Round Lake Auditorium conducted by the Malta area faith communities and the village of Round Lake. The service will include the presentation of colors, singing and recognition of the people involved in community service.
• The town of Clifton Park will hold a 10th anniversary remembrance ceremony at 3 p.m. on the stage at Clifton Common off Vischer Ferry Road. The event will include prayers by local clergy, a military color guard, bagpipers, a presentation by the Clifton Park Community Chorus and featured speaker, the Rev. Kenneth Paulli, OFM, of Siena College.
• The town of Halfmoon will hold a Patriot Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at Abele Memorial Park on Harris Road in recognition of the 10th anniversary. The program includes prayer and reflection as well as bagpipe music, a gun salute and procession of emergency responders.
• The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Inter-Church Council will hold a community 9/11 memorial service at 4 pm at Indian Meadows Park on Droms Road in Glenville. In case of rain, the service will be moved to Immaculate Conception Church on Route 50. Local scout troops are participating as well as at least 7 fire and rescue companies. Audience members will have an opportunity to write the name of anyone whose life was lost or changed due to 9/11 on a ribbon and tie it to a tree that will later be permanently planted in the park.
Schenectady County
• “Schenectady Remembers: Moving Toward Peace,” an interfaith worship service, will be held at 2 p.m. at Veterans Park across from the Schenectady County Courthouse and Office Building. In event of rain, it will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 603 State St.
• The Water’s Edge Lighthouse Restaurant and Inn will host its fifth annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at 9 a.m. at 2 Freemans Bridge Road in Glenville. The ceremony near the restaurant will take place around a steel girder salvaged from the World Trade Center.
• The Princetown Civic and Historical Committee will host a memorial ceremony at 1 p.m. near the Town Hall on Princetown Plaza.
• Christ’s Church of the Hills at 4809 Mariaville Road (Route 159), Rotterdam, will hold a service of remembrance at 9:30 a.m.
Categories: Schenectady County
