A traveling exhibit which recalls the events of Sept. 11, 2001 is stopping in Grand Rapids for three days.

The West Michigan Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute committee has announced the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit” will be in Grand Rapids, Sept. 9 - 11, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

The exhibit will be part of the community’s annual remembrance on Sept. 11. Boy Scouts of America will be joined by area Girl Scouts in the 15th annual day-long Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute. The day of remembrance has been held annually from sunrise to sunset since September 11, 2002 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. This is the second time the exhibit has been a part of the event.

The mobile exhibit was dedicated on September 11, 2013 by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which is named for a New York firefighter who sacrificed his life for others on 9/11.

“Children and their families are able to learn about the historic events of 9/11 through this exhibit, especially since so many are unable to travel to the memorial at Ground Zero in New York” Joe Calvaruso, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation said. “This exhibit eternalizes the individuals who gave their lives and ensures that we will never forget that day.”

The exhibit is divided into three sections: The history of the World Trade Center, what happened at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, and the story of Stephen Siller and the work being accomplished by his Foundation.

The artifacts in the exhibit were selected by members of the New York City Fire Department to show the American people what it was like to be at Ground Zero on 9/11. A piece of World Trade Center steel, aluminum façade from the towers, first-responder radio transmissions and documentary video segments are among the items on display.

Four FDNY firefighters will be on-hand at the exhibit to offer tours, eyewitness accounts of what happened that day, and to answer visitors’ questions.

On Sept. 8, the Grand Rapids Fire and Police Departments, the Patriot Guard Riders, members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle and Axemen motorcycle clubs, and the Boy Scouts of America will escort the mobile museum to its temporary display location at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

While in Grand Rapids, the exhibit is free and open to the public to visit. The exhibit will be open:

  • Sept. 9: 2:30PM - 5PM
  • Sept. 10: 9AM - 5PM
  • Sept. 11: 7AM - 7PM

The schedule of events for the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute on Sept. 11 includes:

7:19AM (sunrise)      Honor Guard lowers flag from full- to half-staff and Scout Salute begins – the community is encouraged to participate at any time during the day

8:45AM                     Moment of Silence and Remembrance

8:46AM                     The Salute Bell will be rung one time for Tower 1 (the time the first plane hit the first tower)

9:03AM                     The Salute Bell will be rung one time for Tower 2

9:37AM                     The Salute Bell will be rung one time for the Pentagon

10:03AM                   The Salute Bell will be rung one time for United Airlines Flight 93

10:05AM                   Non-Denominational Service

1 – 6PM                    Canine and Mounted Police demonstrations

(various times throughout the afternoon)

2PM                          Ceremony honoring fire, police, EMS and Military

2 – 4PM                    Canine

6:50PM                    Evening ceremonies begin

·       Performance by The Salvation Army Brass Band

·       SpartanNash Honor and Remember flag presentation

·       Remarks from keynote speaker retired Brigadier General and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Michael C.H. McDaniel

·       Remarks from Boy Scout Council President Wayman Britt

·       The final salute and the flag being raised to full-staff

8PM (sunset)            Scout Salute closes

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