Many Observances Planned In RI For Sept. 11

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—Monday is the sixteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. President Trump issued a proclamation inviting all the governors to join in a Patriot Day observance honoring all those who lost their lives that day. Gov. Gina Raimondo has accepted and ordered that the U.S. and Rhode Island flags at all state facilities and buildings be flown at half-staff on Monday, September 11 in honor of the lives lost as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, her office said.

Here are some of the observances planned in the Rhode Island Patch cities and towns.

North Kingstown

At 8 a.m. at the Town Beach in North Kingstown, 44 Beach St., a ceremony will be held in honor of the Sept. 11 dead.

North Scituate

In North Scituate at 8:30 a.m., the state police will host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at state police headquarters, 311 Danielson Pike. Family members of the victims and those who died fighting the war on terror are expected to attend along with police and firefighters and elected officials. Speakers will include the governor, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed, and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Cong. David Cicilline, Col. Ann Assumpico and family members of the victims.

Oakland Beach, Warwick

Rep. Camilla F.J. Vella-Wilkinson has planned two ceremonies. At 10:15 a.m., a silent march will leave the J.O.N.A.H. Community Center for the beach. A moment of silence will be observed at 10:28 a.m. when the first tower fell. There will be a reading of the names, placement of flags; recitation of the 9-11 tribute poem and Taps at the sea wall where the Warwick 9-11 monument is located. The keynote speaker will be Judy Cobden, a Ground Zero survivor, who is a resident of Warwick. Then at 7:30 p.m., there will be a candlelight vigil and moment of silent. Cobden will also be keynote speaker.

Naval War College, Newport

U.S. Naval War College (NWC) will hold a remembrance ceremony at noon at Patriots Memorial on NWC campus. The ceremony will honor those killed in the attacks and pay special tribute to the three NWC students and eight alumni killed in the Pentagon 16 years ago.Remarks will be given by NWC Comptroller Mark Murphy, a retired Navy captain who was working in the Pentagon on the tragic day.The remembrance will include a wreath laying at the memorial and a bell-ringing ceremony conducted by the Newport-area chief petty officer selectees. Patriots Memorial consists of a section of limestone removed from the damaged portion of the Pentagon. The names of the 11 fallen are inscribed on the memorial, which was dedicated in September 2002.

File Photo: Wreath Laying at Patriots Memorial