Governor Kelly Ayotte to Attend September 11 Ceremony

MILFORD TO DEDICATE 9/11 FREEDOM MEMORIAL ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Governor Kelly Ayotte to Attend September 11 Ceremony

MILFORD, NH — The Town of Milford will dedicate its new 9/11 Freedom Memorial on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 8:00 AM at Memorial Park, at Union and Elm Streets, marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

At 8:46 AM, the time the first hijacked plane struck the World Trade Center, those gathered will observe a momnet of silence while the town bell is rung in remembrance of the victims and the events that changed the nation.

Governor Kelly Ayotte has confirmed her attendance. Milford's first responders, veterans, community leaders and residents will gather for the ceremony, with the Milford Fire Department raising an oversized American flag from its ladder truck above the park. The Milford High School Band and Chorus will also participate.

The dedication marks the culmination of a multi-year community effort led by local veterans and volunteers to create a permanent place for remembrance, reflection and education.

The centerpiece of the Freedom Memorial is an authentic steel floor truss recovered from the World Trade Center's South Tower. Master sculptor John Weidman, co-founder of the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline and a Vietnam veteran, incorporated the steel into a granite setting created for the park.

"This memorial is a physical reflection of Milford's character," said Jerry Guthrie, project leader and veteran. "A project of this scale only happens because of our town's deep philosophy of community kindness and mutual support. Our veterans and residents didn't just collect funds; they poured their hearts into creating a permanent sanctuary of remembrance."

The Freedom Memorial joins Milford's existing World War II and Vietnam Veterans memorials within the newly designated Memorial Park. A lighted brick walkway now connects the memorials, creating a unified landscape of remembrance beside the pond and falls.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited to a small reception at the First Congregational Church, adjacent to Memorial Park.

All area residents are welcome to attend the dedication and are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

ABOUT THE FREEDOM MEMORIAL

Milford's 9/11 Freedom Memorial grew from a nine-year collaborative effort involving veterans, volunteers, artists, landscape design, local organizations, businesses, donors and the Town of Milford.

At its center, World Trade Center steel rests within Milford granite, surrounded by words chosen to carry the memorial's meaning forward—including service. resilience and resurrection.

Together with the World War II and Vietnam Veterans memorials, the Freedom Memorial forms a living landscape intended not only to remember the past, but to invite reflection, education and community for generations to come.

Photo of Memorial Park Monolith with 9/11 Freedom Memorial beyond. WWII Memorial on right