Patriot Day shutterstock image

September 09, 2021

Carbondale, SIU to host Patriot Day ceremony on Saturday

The city of Carbondale and the university are hosting a Patriot Day ceremony to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and honor the nation’s first responders. The brief ceremony is set for 9 a.m. at the flagpole in front of Altgeld Hall.

Lt. Col. Jessica H. Dwyer, commander and adjunct professor of aerospace studies for Air Force ROTC Detachment 205 at SIU Carbondale, is the guest speaker. Dwyer’s uncle was in New York City on the day of the attacks, and she will share his story and how that day impacted her life and career.

SIU Army ROTC cadets will serve as the honor guard. There will be a flag-lowering ceremony and prayer. The ceremony will conclude with a moment of silence and ringing of a bell at 9:28 a.m., the local time the World Trade Center’s North Tower collapsed in New York City in 2001.

Although a limited number of chairs will be available during the ceremony, the city of Carbondale encourages those attending to bring their own chairs. Those attending must also follow current campus and state pandemic safety protocols.