Tuesday morning marks the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. Nearly two decades later, 255 miles away, Syracuse still remembers.

The Syracuse Police Department has organized a candlelight memorial service Tuesday morning at Forman Park. The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m., with 17 minutes of silence starting at 8:46 a.m., lasting until 9:03 a.m.

Officer Marlena Jackson at the SPD said she thinks the annual ceremony is important for the community. The department alternates organizing the event with the Syracuse Fire Department each year.

“We were all affected by it, so that’s why we do it every year,” Jackson said.

She said they’re expecting about 30 people to attend the event — ceremony-goers can include veterans, people passing by, firefighters and police officers, among others.

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Across the city, The Great New York State Fairgrounds is home to a permanent memorial for the tragedy. Erected in 2002, the memorial features an eternal flame and a piece of steel retrieved from the Twin Towers.

While the state fairgrounds don’t hold a service on the anniversary date, they honor the victims of the attack and veterans involved during the State Fair, said Dave Bullard, State Fair public relations and marketing manager.

Other ceremonies include one held in the DeWitt Town Hall, about a 10 minute drive from Syracuse University’s campus. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. and will honor the victims of the attacks, according to the town’s Facebook page. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. Another local memorial will be held at the Cicero Fire Department’s headquarters at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Published on September 10, 2018 at 11:47 pm

Contact Lydia: lnilesst@syr.edu