Portsmouth 9/11 Memorial Service

Eighteen years after terror attacks on America struck the twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and caused the destruction of Flight 93 in a field in Shanksville, PA, we will again pause and remember the world-changing events of September 11, 2001.

On Wednesday, September 11th, 2019, police officers and fire fighters, along with the citizens they protect, will take time out of their work day to commemorate the terrorist attacks in New York City, and Washington, D.C., and the bravery of the passengers that went down with the plane in Shanksville, PA.  We honor the heroism of fire, police and ordinary citizens as they responded to that catastrophe and the loss of 3,000 people.

A memorial service will be held outside Police Headquarters/Portsmouth City Hall on the morning of Wednesday, September 11th, 2019, at the site of the 911 Steel Artifact Memorial, to honor the memory of the fallen heroes and victims.  The service will start at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City.

Businesses, residents, visitors, and school children are invited to join police and fire personnel for the brief memorial service.  Portsmouth Fire Chief Todd Germaine, and Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Merner, who was himself at Ground Zero in New York within hours of the attack, will speak at the Memorial Observance. You are encouraged to bring a flower or bouquet of any type to lay at the foot of the 9/11 Steel Artifact as a visible reminder of your attendance to honor the memory of these heroes and victims. 

The commemoration ceremonies will honor the 2,507 civilians, 72 law enforcement officers, 343 firefighters, 10 emergency medical workers, and 55 military service personnel who lost their lives, or gave their lives saving others.  Many first responders are still fighting for their lives, and others are losing their lives, as a result of their response to Ground Zero.  Each year we lose a few more. The City of Portsmouth was directly impacted by the 9/11 attacks by the loss of American Airlines’ co-pilot Tom McGuinness, a Portsmouth resident, who was flying American Airlines flight #11, the first plane flown into the tower. 

Everyone is encouraged to take a few minutes, and acknowledge the loss to the country and the victim’s families…mark the day, and remember…, so that WE WILL NEVER FORGET.