11 Names Will Be Added to Michigan Memorial in 9/11 Ceremony

The Michigan Fallen Heroes memorial includes a wall containing the etched names of 810 fallen heroes. (Photo: FBI.gov.)

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Eleven new names will be added to the Michigan’s Fallen Heroes granite wall and Gov. Rick Snyder will deliver keynote remarks during the annual memorial ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard will also make remarks as the founder of the memorial, dedicated to police officers and firefighters throughout the state of Michigan who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The annual ceremony coincides with the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Many survivors of the officers and firefighters will also be in attendance to remember their loved ones and to pay special tribute to their lives of service.

Musical components of the program will be performed by the Detroit Children’s Choir and the Metro Detroit Police and Fire Pipes & Drums. Karen Drew of WDIV-TV will be the master of ceremonies.

The new names will bring to 810 the number of names on the Memorial Wall. Those individuals whose names will be added include:

• Paul K Butterfield II, trooper, Michigan State Police (died in 2013)
• Rodney Wayne Jones, officer, Detroit Police Department (died in 2013)
• Patrick E Hill, officer, Detroit Police Department (died in 2013)
• Thomas Hardy, Athens Fire Department, chief (died in 2010)
• John D Grabowski, Riverview Fire Department, lieutenant (died in 2012)
• John T Sayles, Pentwater Fire Department, captain (died in 2012)
• Gerald “Jerry” R Wetherell, Denton Township Fire Department, firefighter/EMT (died in 2012)
• Donald G Paterson, Kimball Fire Department, firefighter (died in 2008)
• Nathaniel C Fruin, Mattawan Fire Department, firefighter (died in 2013)
• Ronald J Haner, Portage Fire Department, firefighter (died in 2000)
• Chad Charles, Michigan Department of Corrections, correctional officer (died in 2014)

If You Go:

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11

Where: Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial, 1200 North Telegraph, Bldg. 38E, Pontiac