Friday will mark the eighth anniversary of terrorist attacks against America. Those acts included hijacked jets crashed into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers and into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the hijacking of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
Widely known as Patriot’s Day, the county and several municipalities will mark the occasion with tributes.
Gov. Jon Corzine has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on all state departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities throughout the day “In recognition and mourning of all of those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks and, particularly, those lost from our home state,” he stated in an executive order.
CREST HAVEN — Cape May County’s Eighth Annual Patriot Day Memorial Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 outside the county Administration Building, 4 Moore Road, just off the Garden State Parkway.
Guest speaker will be U.S. Marshal James Plousis.
Participating will be the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center’s Ceremonial Detail from Cape May.
Members of the 29th Basic Class for Police Officers at Cape May County Police Academy will lead the flag salute.
Ocean City High School 11th grader Lexis Petrella will sing the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”
County employee Mark Huff will sing “Amazing Grace.”
Prayers will be offered by Rabbi Jeffrey Lipschultz of Beth Judah Temple, Wildwood, Dr. Jeffrey Elliott, Cape May Lutheran Church, Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Carla Barry of the Guardian of the Sea chapel, Coast Guard Training Center.
Rev. John O’Leary, Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Church will offer Benediction.
Freeholders will present a memorial wreath. Then a rifle salute will be rendered. “Taps” will close the ceremony.
As part of the daylong Patriot Day tribute to over 3,000 who died in the attacks, freeholders urge everyone in the county to fly flags at half-staff.
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SEA ISLE CITY — Patriot Day is a time to come together to honor and remember those lost in the September 11 terrorist attacks. This year, Sea Isle City will hold its annual Patriot Day Ceremony on Friday, September 11th, in Veterans Park, located on the corner of JFK Boulevard and Landis Avenue. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Guest speakers will include Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio, VFW Post Commander Charles Haines, the fourth and fifth graders of Sea Isle City Public School will recite a poem, and VFW member Russell Briggs will be the vocalist.
VFW Post 1963 and Sea Isle City’s Ambulance Corps, Police, and Fire Departments will also be on hand.
Many clergy members will take part in the ceremony as well.
Deacon Liam Conor O’Clisham of Saint Joseph R.C. Church, Invocation; Rev. Barbara Frohock of the United Methodist Church, Prayer of Remembrance.
Dr. Minister Hartmut Fege of the Messiah Lutheran Church will conclude with the Benediction.
For information contact Pattiann Ponichtera at (609) 263-4461 x245.
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OCEAN CITY — To remember all victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on America, the city will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park, Sixth and Wesley Avenue.
Veterans groups and the city will participate. The public is invited.
John Divel, commander, American Legion Post 524 will be guest speaker. He is an Air Force veteran from 1949-1955. As a staff sergeant and medic, he was stationed in Japan and Korea.
Bob Marzulli will introduce Divel.
Ocean City High School Band will play the “Star Spangled Banner.” Lexis Petrella will sing God Bless America. Later in the day, she is also scheduled to sing at the Cape May County Patriots Day Ceremony at Crest Haven at 5 p.m.
Veteran Bill Godsell will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rev. Brian Roberts of St. Peter United Methodist Church will give the invocation.
Rev. Mark Brussehoff of St. John Lutheran Church will offer the Benediction.
There will be remarks by local school children. A wreath will be placed. The program will end with “Amazing Grace,” performed by the Atlantic City Fire Department Pipe Band.
In event of rain, the ceremony will be held across the street from the park at the Tabernacle Auditorium.
For information call 609.525.9300.
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WILDWOOD CREST — The Borough of Wildwood Crest will host a 9/11 Memorial Service Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Miami Road and New Jersey Avenue, adjacent to Sunset Lake.
Various community and religious leaders are expected to attend the ceremony, which will honor all of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Call 522-5176 for further information.
In addition, volunteers are needed for placement of American flags throughout the borough on Sept. 10 in preparation for Patriot’s Day. Those interested should contact Joyce Gould at 522-0198.
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NORTH WILDWOOD — At 8:45 a.m., the city will begin its tribute on the front steps of North Wildwood City Hall, 901 Atlantic Ave.
In years past, the ceremony was held at First and New Jersey avenues, but has been moved, because Sept. 11 falls on Friday of Roar to the Shore Weekend.
At City Hall there will be less traffic, allowing for the program’s solemn atmosphere.
Participants will include North Wildwood Mayor Bill Henfey, Council President Patrick Rosenello, Council Members, Rev. Wallace of St. Ann’s Church, Police Chief Robert Matteucci, Fire Chief Paul Evangelista, Cape May County Fire Coordinator Art Treon, Representatives from VFW Post 5941, Emerald Society Color Guard, Irish Bagpiper Kevin Toland, Dolly McGee singing the National Anthem, and Pastor Ginny Keiser of North Wildwood First United Methodist Church.
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CAPE MAY — Cape May Kiwanis Club will host a Sept. 11 tribute at 6:30 p.m. at the Cove Pavilion on Beach Avenue.
Firefighters, city officials and others are expected to attend. The public is invited.
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