9/11 Memorials Planned Across Shreveport Bossier

Several big events are planned this week as we pause to remember the September 11th terror attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives in the United States. Terrorists flew commercial airliners into the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and another crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

Our area played a key role on the morning of September 11th. President George W. Bush was flown directly to Barksdale Air Force Base after the attacks. He issued a statement to the nation from a Barksdale bunker.

Here are some of the events happening on Wednesday in our area:

Shreveport Police and Fire Fighters Memorial

8-9 a.m on the Clyde Fant Parkway. This will include colors being posted by the Byrd High School ROTC. Taps will also be played and a piper from the Caddo Sheriff's Office will play Amazing Grace. Mayor Adrian Perkins, Shreveport Fire Chief Scott Wolverton and chaplain, Dr. Randy Harper, and Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond will be at this event.

Bossier City 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

9 a.m.at the Liberty Garden 620 Benton Road

Keynote speaker will be USAF Major General James W. Graves. There also will be remarks from Bossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker. Bossier Elementary School 3rd grade student Mazari Knight will present her winning composition from the school’s essay contest entitled “What is a Hero?” The ceremony will conclude with the playing of Taps by Ava Sullivan of the Parkway High School band.

9/11 Commemorative Program

12 p.m. at Bossier Parish Community College in the Stephen W. Slaughter Performing Arts Theatre. The Airline High School JROTC will present the colors, followed by a musical performance by the BPCC Gospel Choir. Guest speaker, retired IRS agent, who was at the Pentagon when it was attacked on 9/11 will share his experience.

Patriot Awards

11:30 a.m.

Bossier Civic Center

Patriot Awards finalists and the 2019 winners will be announced at the Bossier Chamber’s 2019 Patriot Awards. You will have a chance to honor and thank first responders. Cajun Navy creator Rob Gaudet is the featured speaker for the event.

YMCA Day of Remembrance Commemorative Stair Climb

5 a.m. – 9 p.m.

At the facility on Knight at Preston. You are invited to join with others in the community to climb 1,980 steps, the same number as the World Trade Center. Eight stairmasters will be set up in the lobby of the YMCA. Each person will have a 25-minute time slot. Fire suits will be provided if people would like to wear one while walking their steps to commemorate the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. Participants who donate $10 or more, or who climb 110 flights of stairs, will receive a commemorative 9/11 pin for your contributions. All funds will go to first responders in Shreveport-Bossier.