By Whitney Vickers
FAIRBORN — Anyone interested in helping plan the City of Faiborn’s 9/11 ceremony is invited to a meeting 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Fairborn Government Center, 44 W. Hebble Ave.
City officials had expressed concerns over attendance of the event, as Sept. 11 falls on a Sunday this year. However, council members and a number of citizens made their voices heard in regards to the importance of remembering the tragic events.
This has led the city to approach the event in a different fashion this time — the 15 year after the towers hit the ground, killing nearly 3,000 individuals and injuring thousands of others.
“Our world is no safer today than it was in 2001 — it’s actually, I think, more unsafe,” Fairborn Mayor Dan Kirkpatrick said. “Having a ceremony to honor those who died and those who served then, now and in the future, is a big part of our country.”
Council member Tim Steininger suggested that the event be straightforward, inviting individuals to a microphone to express their thoughts related to the tragedy. However, the ceremony could feature a speaker.
While previous 9/11 ceremonies hosted by the City of Fairborn have taken place near the same time the first plane hit the tower, this year’s ceremony faces the possibility of being held in the afternoon. A piece of steel from the towers belongs to the City of Fairborn in front of the National Center for Medical Readiness at Calamityville, 506 E. Xenia Drive, which is where the ceremony would be hosted.
“I think it’s imperative, as long as terrorism is a threat to our country, we need to recognize that and this is a direct way to do that,” Kirkpatrick said.
Council members also expressed understanding for individuals who would be emotionally struck by attending such an event.
“Some folks who were involved in the tragedy don’t like to attend these sorts of things because it’s emotional for them, and I get it,” Council member Marilyn McCauley said. “I don’t think anyone should have to attend any type of ceremony, whether hosted by a city or otherwise, who goes through some real emotional trauma. Anybody who doesn’t wish to be reminded of that day, we should remember that that still lays with them.”