Roswell To Host 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

ROSWELL, GA — The Roswell Rotary Club will join forces with the city of Roswell to once again host the 9/11 Memorial Service. The service will be held at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Mike Gann 9-11 memorial by the Roswell Area Park lake.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved indoors to the main recreation building. The public is invited to attend the service.

This year's keynote speaker will be Travis Ellis, a Georgia native, business owner and community leader who works with wounded veterans and is working to help stop suicides among these brave men and women. These vets were wounded in a war that was started with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Twin Towers 17 years ago, the Rotary Club said.

Ellis wanted to make a lasting difference in the lives of veterans returning from post 9/11 wars with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In 2014, he co-founded Shepherd's Men, a volunteer group that supports the Atlanta Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative, a nationally recognized rehabilitation program for veterans with TBI and PTSD – dedicated to saving lives.

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Shepherd's Men are known for their grueling long distance, multi-city runs, plus other activities, to raise awareness of the veteran suicide rate of 22 per day. The organization has raised more than $3.2 million for the SHARE program.

Ellis was honored in March 2017 by the Recipients of the Medal of Honor to receive the Citizen Honors Award for his tireless efforts with the Shepherd' Men, the highest recognition a civilian can receive. He also received the Georgia National Guard's Minuteman Award and is affiliated with Georgia Sons of the American Revolution and The Clyde Thomason Marine Corp League Detachment.

In addition to the keynote speaker, Roswell Mayor Lori Henry will speak on behalf of the city. Police Chief Rusty Grant, Fire Chief Ricky Burnette, Jackson Kell, son of Rotary 9-11 Chair, Dwayne Kell, and Marine 1st Sgt Walter Marques will lay the wreaths. Master of ceremonies will be retired radio personality Moby Carney.

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