Senator Farley Notes Patriot Day Is Sunday – Many Local Memorial Ceremonies Slated

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) notes there are several ceremonies and exhibits being held this coming weekend that honor the heroes and remembers those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Congress has designated September 11th of each year as “Patriot Day.”

“We will never forget how the tragedy of the terrorist attacks on September 11th changed our lives,” Senator Farley said. “These exhibits and ceremonies help us to remember that day, to remember the friends and loved ones we lost, to reflect on the heroic service of volunteers and emergency service personnel, and to remember that we must be ever vigilant to protect ourselves against anything like this ever happening again.”

Fulton-Montgomery Community College will be hosting a World Trade Center (WTC) Artifact Dedication Ceremony on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. In 2015, a 33-foot tall section of the television antenna that stood at the top of the north tower of the WTC was delivered to the college’s campus. This event is coupled with the viewing of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall that is hosted by the college from Sept. 9th to Sept. 11th.

Water’s Edge Lighthouse, located at 2 Freemans Bridge Road in Glenville, will host its annual 9-11 memorial at 5 p.m. on Sunday on the banks of the Mohawk River. A tribute service will also be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday by the Bridge Christian Church, 735 Crane St., Schenectady, and will feature John Sullivan, a special agent who responded to the WTC attack.

A 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held on Sunday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. In the park is the “Tempered by Memory” sculpture, created by Noah Savitze in collaboration with John Van Alstine, It is comprised of five pieces of twisted steel from the 2001 terrorist attacks. A display of original photographs by Lawrence White will also be available for viewing in the park during the ceremony.

The New York State Museum is home to a large collection of artifacts pertaining to the terrorist attacks. According to the museum’s website, “The collection encompasses materials from the World Trade Center, including building materials and objects of daily office life; a significant number of artifacts pertaining to the heroic efforts of first responders; fragments of the aircraft; and material documenting the tremendous global response to the attacks.” For more information on the exhibit and the new addition called “World Trade Center Survivors ,” visit http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/exhibitions/world-trade-center-survivors%E2%80%94-new-addition-world-trade-center-gallery  The new addition opens this coming Saturday, Sept. 10th.

“I also encourage people to fly their American flags at half-staff on Sunday, Sept. 11th, and observe a moment of silence in honor of the 3,000 people who died that day,” Senator Farley said.