9/11 In Harford County: Moment Of Silence, Candle Lighting

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Over the years, the nation has come together at ceremonies in Harford County and other U.S. communities to recognize the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This Friday marks the 19th anniversary of the acts of terror.

"We still have people that joined the military as a result of that to defend our country, and they’ve been in war for almost 20 years," Havre de Grace Chief of Police Teresa Walter said at this week's City Council meeting.

"With everything going on with COVID and everything else nationally, I just wanted everybody to keep in mind all the victims of September 11," Walter said, asking people to think of the families and first responders. "Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as this week comes to an end.”

As the 19th anniversary of the attacks arrives, ceremonies are likely to look different. To date, more than 6 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting community leaders to put extra precautions in place, move ceremonies online or cancel them altogether.

There were a couple of in-person events in Harford County planned for the occasion.

Harford County Recognition

Harford County employees gathered for a brief ceremony outside the county government administrative building in Bel Air. The event included a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001.

The public was welcome to attend, provided people maintained social distancing and wore face coverings when appropriate, organizers said. The ceremony was at 220 South Main Street.

“The coronavirus pandemic continues to bring challenges to our families and communities, and on Friday we will recall another time when our country was hit by an unprecedented attack,” County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement. “As we remember the innocent victims of that tragic day, let us also remember that our nation has weathered many storms. As always, the best way forward is together."

'We Remember' In Darlington

An outdoor ceremony billed as a family friendly event was slated for 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company, 1520 Whiteford Rd. The public was not allowed to enter the firehouse.

Several community groups would be participating, organizers said, and people were asked to wear face coverings and stay 6 feet apart.

Parking was at Dublin Elementary School. The event included a candle lighting.

Events Around The Nation

Services held at 9/11 attack sites will also look different this year because of the pandemic.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to send state health personnel to New York City to provide supervision during the annual "Tribute in Light" ceremony, a commemoration of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The focus of the event will be on reading the names of victims. Family members will not read the names in person this year; instead, recorded readings from the museum’s In Memoriam exhibition will be used for the ceremony.

In Arlington County, Virginia, the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial remains closed to visitors because of COVID-19 restrictions. Arlington County typically holds an annual remembrance ceremony, which this year will be held virtually.

In Pennsylvania, the National Park Service will hold an abbreviated ceremony at Shanksville. The 20-minute “Moment of Remembrance” is set to begin at 9:45 a.m., without a keynote speaker or musical guests. The names of each passenger and crew member from Flight 93 will be read aloud with the ringing of the “Bells of Remembrance,” according to the agency’s website.

Both President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden plan to visit Shanksville on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, will attend Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies in New York this year.