Canton, Woodstock Prepare For 9/11 Ceremonies

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County community will have two chances to formally commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on American soil.

Two events are planned, and both are free and open to the public. Each event will give residents a chance to pay their respects to the 3,000 lives lost in the attacks, including the many first responders who gave the ultimate sacrifice to get citizens to safety.

The annual Patriot's Day Ceremony, organized by county public safety agencies, will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9 in downtown Canton.

This year's keynote speaker will be Cherokee County Sheriff-elect Frank Reynolds, and the ceremony will be held at the Public Safety Memorial between the Cherokee County Justice Center and the historic courthouse along North Street.

On Sunday, the city of Woodstock will host its annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance ceremony. The city's event will start 2 p.m. at the Park at City Center.

The event, co-hosted by the Woodstock Jaycees, will include guest speakers and a chance to honor men and women in uniform as well as those who've served our country in the military.

Organizers will also hand out a limited supply of 9/11 Remembrance lapel pins. Woodstock's 2016 installment of its commemoration will feature something more touching.

Several months ago, City Manager Jeff Moon was made aware by a resident that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were distributing artifacts salvaged from Ground Zero following the 2001 attacks.

Woodstock’s Mayor Donnie Henriques sent a letter requesting the city to be considered for receipt of an artifact.

Woodstock was selected to receive two 12-foot sections of a subway track that were from a station located beneath the World Trade Center. On May 25, Woodstock Public Works employees attended a ceremony at JFK International Airport in New York and retrieved the artifacts to return to Woodstock.

The two, 12-foot tracks will be installed as a permanent memorial, and will be unveiled during Sunday's ceremony.

The Park at City Center is located at 101 Arnold Mill Road in downtown Woodstock.

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