Portsmouth To Commemorate 9/11 Attacks

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Eighteen years after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2oo1, Portsmouth will once again pause and remember the world-changing events — the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and destruction of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, the community will gather in Portsmouth to commemorate the events, including the heroism of fire, police and ordinary citizens. Among the 3,000 people who died in the events was Portsmouth resident Tom McGuinness, American Airlines co-pilot who was flying Flight 11, the first plane flowing into the tower.

Wednesday's memorial service will be held outside the police headquarters, at the site of the 9/11 Steel Artifact Memorial, to honor the memory of fallen heroes and victims. The service will start at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City.

Speaking at the service will be Portsmouth Fire Chief Todd Germaine and Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Merner, who was himself at Ground Zero hours after the attacks. Businesses, residents, visitors and school children to attend. Those who attend the brief service are encouraged to bring a flower or bouquet to lay at the foot of the 9/11 Steel Artifact.

The commemoration ceremonies will honor 2,507 civilians, 72 law enforcement officers , 343 firefighters, 10 emergency medical workers and 55 military service personnel who died, or lost their lives saving others.