Dedication of Memorial to Mark Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks Sunday

The City of Arnold will unveil a Sept. 11 memorial garden that includes an artifact from the World Trade Center at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the north lawn of the at 1695 Missouri State Rd.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.

On that day, 19 al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger jets and crashed two of the airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and thousands working in the buildings. The third airliner crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth plane, en route to Washington, D.C., crashed in a field near Shanksville, PA after passengers attempted to retake control of the airliner.

The artifact is a 2-foot piece of World Trade Center steel that twisted when the office buildings crumbled and killed 2,817 people.

The City of Arnold is one of 1,218 applicants, out of 2,000, to receive the final disbursement of World Trade Center debris.

The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, which guards World Trade Center remnants and approves 9/11 memorials, sent the artifact to Arnold late last month.

Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Susie Boone said the artifact represents a piece of history.

“Once we knew that we had been chosen to receive something, it became of historical value and something obviously generations to come would be able to view and honor every year,” Boone said. “To think that we were one of the few chosen throughout the world makes it even more special.”

Boone said she hopes the memorial will serve as a place of learning and remembrance.

“It’s an opportunity for the young folks here and those yet to come to have an opportunity to learn about a part of history, to witness what happened on the infamous day,” Boone said. “It’s very important that kids and parents and grandparents have an opportunity to share that moment by looking at something that came from that moment.”

The dedication ceremony will include speeches by local government officials and dignitaries, a 21-gun salute by VFW Post 2593, honor guards made up of police and firefighters, a benediction and recognition of fallen firefighters by the Rock Community Fire Protection District chaplain, an invocation by the Arnold Police chaplain and musical performances by the Fox High School Drum Line, Fox Middle School and Ridgewood Middle School bands and the First Baptist Church of Arnold’s children’s choir.