Annual memorial of 9-11 planned

Columbia County government and fire officials are inviting residents to join them for a Patriot Day ceremony Thursday to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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The brief ceremony will start at 8:30 a.m. at the flagpole in front of the Columbia County Justice Center on Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans.

The county has held a memorial ceremony on Sept. 11 each year since the attacks.

The event is meant to recognize the civilians, first responders, firefighters and police officers who died in New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon, said county Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker.

"By going out and having a brief remembrance, a moment of silence, it is the least we can do," Tucker said.

The ceremony will include a flag-lowering ceremony and the last call for the Fire Department of New York by area police and firefighters, who will ring a bell and lead a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. prior to a bagpipe solo.

"It is a solemn ceremony. There is not much said," Tucker said. "It all speaks for itself. ... It is a time to respect and remember and appreciate."

In addition to the county's services, the Knights of Columbus will hold to a Blue Mass at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 4921 Columbia Road, Grovetown, in remembrance of the victims and rescue workers.