Next Sunday will be a time of remembrance as communities in St. Charles County and elsewhere mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States.
Nearly 3,000 people, including hundreds of first responders in New York City, perished after terrorists hijacked four airliners flying out of Boston that fateful Tuesday morning. Two of the planes flew into the World Trade Center's twin towers, causing them to collapse. One punched a hole in the Pentagon. The other crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field after passengers tried to wrest control from the hijackers.
In St. Charles County, the cities of O'Fallon, Lake Saint Louis and Wentzville will host commemorative ceremonies. Some churches will host events, beginning Wednesday night at Wentzville First Assembly of God where a World Trade Center survivor is scheduled to be the featured speaker.
Harvester Christian Church is sponsoring a community memorial service Sept. 11, but not at the church. The service will be at the Family Arena and begin at 10:28 a.m. — the time the second World Trade Center tower fell.
The service will be one of looking back with respect for those who lost their lives and looking forward with hope by honoring local first responders and military personnel, said Brian Jobe, senior minister at Harvester Christian Church.
"We wanted to give as many people as possible the opportunity to remember and look back, but also the opportunity to say thank you to the people who serve us every day," he said.
Jobe said close to 9,000 seats should be available in the arena, including seats set up on the floor.
Following is a look at those and other events, based on information provided to the Journal:
Wentzville First Assembly of God
111 W. Allen St., 7 p.m. Sept. 7. Speaker: Sujo John, who was in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center when the first airliner exploded above his office. Additional information: visit www.sujojohn.com or call the church at 636-887-1070
Lindenwood University
Harlen C. Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, 6 p.m. Sept. 10, commemorative activities planned at Lions' football home opener against Graceland University, including moment of silence and recognition of fire, police, military and emergency medical personnel. The university also will accept nonperishable food items for donation to St. Louis Area Foodbank. The collection marks the beginning of the university's participation in the 2011 United Way of Greater St. Louis campaign.
Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for children and is free for children under age 5, Lindenwood students and all certified first responders. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 636-949-4953.
Faith United Methodist Church
2950 Droste Road, St. Charles, 9 a.m. Sept. 11, traditional service to include time of reflection and anthems sung by the sanctuary choir. There will be displays of photographs taken at ground zero in New York City shortly after the attack and a "50 State Hexagon Quilt" completed by quilters at the church. For more information call 636-946-0498.
Grace Baptist Church
3601 Ehlmann Road, St. Charles, 10:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 11, Patriot Day service to commemorate 9/11 anniversary and honor local police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and military personnel. Speaker: Army chaplain Maj. William Wehlge. Visit www.gracebaptistchurch.info or call 636-724-4879 for more information.
Family Arena
2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles, 10:28 a.m. Sept. 11, community service sponsored by Harvester Christian Church. Speakers: David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, one of the passengers aboard United Flight 93 when it crashed in Pennsylvania; Brian Jobe, senior minister at Harvester Christian Church. Free and open to public; no tickets required. Visit www.911harvestercc.org for more information.
Wentzville
Meyer Road in front of Progress Park, noon Sept. 11, opening ceremony for city's annual soap box derby; the ceremony will recognize the 9/11 anniversary. For more information call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department at 636-332-9236.
Lake Saint Louis
Veteran's Memorial Park at City Hall, Highway 40 and Lake Saint Louis Boulevard, 1 p.m. Sept. 11. Speaker: Richard Mendenhall, former U.S. Army Green Beret and Vietnam veteran and former president of National Association of Realtors. The ceremony will include a memorial to victims of 9/11.
Limited seating provided; public may bring lawn chairs.
O'Fallon
Noon Sept. 11: "Stop and Remember." The city is asking residents to join a national moment of remembrance by ceasing all regular activity for one minute and reflecting on the lives lost and others affected by the 9/11 tragedies.
12:30-3:30 p.m. Sept. 11, Patriot Day blood drive, O'Fallon City Hall, 100 N. Main St. Walk-ins welcome.
1:30 p.m. Sept. 11, Patriot Day ceremony, "A Tribute to First Responders," 9-11 First Responders Memorial behind City Hall. Speaker: Dawn Robinson, who survived the attacks on the World Trade Center. The ceremony will include sounding of sirens followed by a moment of silence, an invitation to the public to place flowers at the memorial, and remarks by Mayor Bill Hennessy and police, fire and ambulance officials.
9-11 Remembrance Walk: immediately following Patriot Day ceremony. Walk a one-mile circuit starting from the memorial. U.S. flags will be distributed to the first 50 volunteers to register; call 636-379-5507.
Citizens United in Service: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m. Sept. 11. Registered volunteers will complete several scheduled projects that support and honor first responders and U.S. military personnel, veterans and their families.
Volunteers will assemble 1,000 child identification kits for police to distribute to families; deliver Neighborhood Watch brochures and National Night Out fliers; paint the police department firing range building and tables and spruce up the fenced area; clean and brighten the O'Fallon Veterans Memorial Walk; remove litter along Veterans Memorial Parkway; watch Scouts demonstrate the correct way to fold the U.S. flag; write letters and decorate thank-you cards for U.S. service members and their families; and sort and box donated items for shipment to U.S. troops serving overseas. Canisters for dropping off items for the Support Our Troops Supply Drive will be placed at O'Fallon City Hall and other locations in St. Charles County.
To make sure adequate supplies will be on hand for the projects, participants are asked to sign up in advance; email to volunteer@ofallon.mo.us or call 636-379-5507.
