Event Information
The Salvation Army of Michigan City, the Guardian Riders and the Michigan City Fire Department are partnering together to create a memorial program to take place in Michigan City this year, honoring and remembering those who died during terror attacks on September 11, 2001.
A 9/11 Remembrance Program and Stair Climb will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 am at the Michigan City Elston YMCA, 1202 Spring St., Michigan City.
Keynote speaker will be Major Becky Simmons of The Salvation Army of Michigan City who will share her story of visiting Ground Zero in New York City following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.
“Many officers within The Salvation Army receive training to respond to emergency disasters and crises such as tornados, hurricanes and fires. This was an opportunity for me to visit a disaster site and offer my services not only as a pastor, but as a social worker to help the first responders who were doing such important, yet emotionally devastating, work,” said Simmons, who was specifically trained by The Salvation Army in critical incident stress management.
Also taking part in the event will be firefighters with the Michigan City Fire Department as well as students of the A.K. Smith Career Center’s fire science class, who will be conducting a stair climb tribute throughout the event. This includes climbing 110 flights of stairs in the YMCA gymnasium, equaling about 2,200 steps, in honor of fallen firefighters on September 11.
The Guardian Riders, a local organization that works to help active duty military personnel and veterans, were key in developing this program to honor the 9/11 victims.
Stacey Gembala, club secretary for the Guardian Riders, said, “The benefit of doing a program like this is to keep the memory of 9/11 alive locally, here in Michigan City because every red-blooded American shared the sadness, the fear, the losses of our neighbors hundreds of miles away that day.”
She added that the Guardian Riders are proud to partner with The Salvation Army and the Michigan City Fire Department on this event. “We like to work with other organizations in our community to help as many people as we can. This event, we believe, is something Michigan City needed as a way to remember and honor all involved in the events that occurred on that day.”
Other groups and individuals who will participate in this event include the Michigan City High School JROTC, which will present colors; the American Legion Post 37 providing a 21-gun salute; Leigh Morris, who will sing the National Anthem; and Pipe Major Craig Brooks of the Celtic Guard Academy, who will close the ceremony.
This event is free and open to the public. More information is available by contacting The Salvation Army of Michigan City at (219) 874-6885 or the Guardian Riders at guardianridersIN@gmail.com.