Today marks 25 years since the 9-11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC and the crash of a plane in Shanksville, Pennsylvania that also carried terrorist hijackers.
Local commemorations of the events of September 11, 2001 are planned for today. They include IUP’s traditional program at the Oak Grove on Campus at 11:10 this morning. Speakers for this year’s ceremonies include IUP president Dr. Michael Driscoll and Retired Army Major General Leslie Purser, a 1980 IUP graduate and decorated combat veteran with 37 years of military service. Army Lt. Colonel Laura Hamilton, the chair of IUP’s department of Military Science will serve as the master of ceremonies. There will also be music from the IUP Wind Ensemble. The ceremony will also serve as a remembrance of three IUP Alumni who died in the terror attacks: William Moskal, William Sugra and Donald Jones.
As part of the university’s tribute, the newly-restored Sutton Hall Bell will toll six times on campus this morning at times that coincide with the plane crashes and the times the World Trade Center towers fell.
Tonight, area first responders will hold their own tribute with a memorial stair climb at the Indiana County Public Safety Academy on Fire Academy Road in Homer City. That starts at 5:00 PM. All are welcome to join firefighters, police and EMTs to honor those who were killed that day by climbing the tower at the Public Safety Academy.
