LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – September 11, 2020 marks 19 years since the terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia, and the hijacked plane crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
“…In the aftermath of one of the worst attacks in our nation’s history, Americans banded together and proved that love is stronger than hate,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement.
The governor proclaimed Friday, September 11, as 9/11 Remembrance Day in Michigan to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks and to bring awareness to the hardships that their loved ones continue to face.
Whitmer added, “This tragedy will always serve as a reminder of the strength, resilience, and compassion that Michiganders and all Americans possess. We are thankful for our first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, and military who showed true heroism and selfless courage in the wake of the attacks. We can remember the victims of 9/11 through acts of service toward each other and by fighting for a more inclusive and just society.”
Remembrance ceremonies will look very different this year due to the pandemic. The event at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids will be live-streamed on Facebook, while Kalamazoo had to cancel their annual event due to gathering restrictions and COVID-19 concerns.
Governor Whitmer ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff to remember the victims. “On Patriot Day, we remember the Americans who lost their lives and honor the first responders who put everything on the line as they rushed toward danger,” Whitmer said. “During those tragic moments, our nation came together as a united force to help our fellow Americans in their time of need. It showed us that we can, and will, overcome any tragedy.”
The governor is urging all citizens to take a moment to remember those who lost their lives, and “carry forward the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice for all.”
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