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The University and the City of Newport News are again presenting a ceremony to remember the victims and honor the heroes of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The Honor and Remember Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Gaines Theatre and is open to all.
The Newport News Police Department, Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office are co-sponsors of the event, along with CNU.
“Ceremonies like this are important - because we can’t allow what happened 23 years ago to be forgotten and we can’t let the memory of the victims and the heroes fade away,” said President William G. Kelly.
Rear Admiral (Retired) Kelly will be speaking at the event, as he brings a special perspective to the day. As the executive officer of the 270-foot Coast Guard cutter Spencer, he played a key role, leading the unit as it stood the watch off the ports of New York and Boston following the attacks of 9/11.
The keynote speaker is Major General John Kline. He is the Commanding General for the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training. He serves as the Senior Army Commander at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, and Fort Story, caring for thousands of Army families along coastal Virginia.
An emotional moment during the ceremony will come with the tolling of a bell in Gaines Theatre and the presentation of three wreaths honoring the victims and first responders from Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, and the World Trade Center.