Salem to honor lives lost in 9/11 attack on 25th anniversary

SALEM -- The city of Salem will be honoring the lives lost in the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, on the 25th anniversary of that historic day.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 8:35 a.m. Friday at Lincoln Plaza. The ceremony will include a flag raising ceremony, discussion of the history of Sept. 11, 2001, and its aftermath, the sharing of personal memories from the day of the attacks and of its life-changing impacts, and the ceremonial construction and presentation of three memorial crosses to honor the first responders that participate in the immediate emergency response and subsequent rescue efforts following the attacks. The crosses will be assembled by members of Salem's police, fire and street departments.

Throughout the ceremony there will be brief moments of silence and the tolling of a memorial bell to remember the lives lost when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m.; American Airlines Flight 77 struck the western facade of the Pentagon at 9:36 a.m.; and United Airlines Flight 93 struck a field in Sommerset County, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m.

The ceremony will also feature an invocation and benediction by Rev. Dan Hardy, and live musical selections by the Allegheny Wesleyan College brass trio and men's choral trio, and Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott Allen.