Morris County, municipalities to mark 25th anniversary of 9/11 with remembrance ceremonies

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — Morris County and municipalities throughout the county will hold remembrance ceremonies and vigils to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The observances will remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives and honor the families, first responders and communities forever changed by the attacks.

Morris County will hold its annual remembrance ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Morris County 9/11 Memorial, 460 West Hanover Ave. in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

Dennis Letts, a retired U.S. Secret Service executive who was at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, will serve as the keynote speaker. The memorial, completed in time for the second anniversary of the attacks, incorporates three pieces of World Trade Center steel, remnants of Flight 93 and soil from the Pentagon, along with the names of the 64 Morris County residents who died in the attacks.

The county ceremony will also be livestreamed on the Morris County Government Facebook page.

Several municipalities will hold local observances Friday, Sept. 11. Events include:

• Long Hill Township — 8:30 a.m.: Ceremony at the Long Hill Township Municipal Building, where the names of the 64 Morris County victims will be read.
• Parsippany-Troy Hills — 8:40 a.m.: 25th Anniversary September 11 Remembrance Ceremony at the 9/11 memorial monument in front of the Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Blvd. The ceremony will include prayers of commemoration, a ceremonial wreath presentation, the reading of the names of Parsippany’s seven residents who died in the attacks and a period of silent reflection.
• Madison — 9 a.m.: Commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 at the 9/11 Memorial in Lower James Park, between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue.
• Morris Plains — 10 a.m.: Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial at the intersection of routes 53 and 202. Retired FBI Agent Bill Bolinder will serve as the special guest speaker.
• Montville — 11 a.m.: 9/11 Memorial Service at Community Park Freedom Plaza, 130 Changebridge Road. The ceremony is presented by Montville Township and VFW Post 5481.
• Randolph — 11 a.m.: VFW Post 7333 will host its annual Patriot Day Ceremony at the post, 103 Carrell Road.
• Chester Township — 4 p.m.: Commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at the Gregg Froehner 9/11 Memorial in Chubb Park, 290 West Main St.
• Rockaway Township — 5 p.m.: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Parks Lake Gazebo. The township updated the start time from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Chatham Borough — 6:30 p.m.: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at the Chatham Borough 9/11 Memorial on North Passaic Avenue, adjacent to the Library of the Chathams.
• Mount Olive — 6:45 p.m.: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Turkey Brook Park.
• Jefferson Township — 7 p.m.: 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at the 9/11 Monument at the Jefferson Municipal Complex, hosted by Boy Scout Troop 151.
• Long Hill Township — 7 p.m.: 25th Anniversary 9/11 Ecumenical Prayer Service at the Shrine of Saint Joseph, 1050 Long Hill Road in Stirling. The service is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Morris County — 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13: Annual remembrance ceremony at the Morris County 9/11 Memorial, 460 West Hanover Ave. in Parsippany-Troy Hills.

County officials noted the list may not include all local 9/11 events. Residents are encouraged to check their municipality’s website and social media for the most current information about local observances.