CONNEAUT —
Students from two neighboring schools gathered briefly Friday morning for a ceremony honoring the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks.
The brief ceremony was the first in a string of community observances this week that will commemorate the decade-old tragedy.
Students and staff at Conneaut Middle and Gateway Elementary schools, which sit across each other on Gateway Avenue, began their day by forming a gigantic circle that spanned the street. Firefighters at Gateway and police officers at CMS raised the flag, followed by hundreds of voices reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Sean Smith, Conneaut High School Marching Band director, played “Taps.”
Firefighters participating were Capt. Steve Sanford, Lloyd Marcy and Terry Burr. Police officers at the ceremony were Detective Sgt. Charles Burlingham, acting chief; and patrolmen Denny Moore and Joe Schor.
Several other ceremonies are planned for Sunday, including:
ASHTABULA
Ashtabula Area Ministerial Association will hold a 10-year anniversary community service at 6 p.m. Sunday at Lance Cpl. Kevin Cornelius Park. Local clergy will serve as worship leaders. Area fire, police and city government representatives will be present. Mae Salter, of G.O. Ministries in Ashtabula, will present music. A candlelighted ceremony will conclude the service. Participants should bring lawn chairs.
At 8:41 a.m. Sunday, to commemorate the time the first airplane struck the World Trade Center, community churches will be ringing their church bells for four minutes, one minute for each airplane that crashed 10 years ago.
ANDOVER
Pymatuning Local Schools is hosting a Ceremony of Remembrance 2 p.m. Sunday in the Veterans Memorial Performing Arts Center on Route 6.
The program will include featured performances by the Pymatuning Valley High School Laker Sound Waves and the Sluder Family Brass Group. Local emergency responders will be recognized in an emotional ceremony, and a brief video of the Sept. 11, 2001, events will be shown. There also will be a guest speaker, and audience participation of the singing of the national anthem, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “God Bless America.” The community is invited to attend.
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Pymatuning Valley Ministerial Association will host a candlelighted remembrance service 7:30 p.m. Sunday on the square in Andover, under the direction of the Rev. Jason Hockran, pastor of Leon and Richmond United Methodist churches.
Personnel from area fire and police departments, Ohio Highway Patrol, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department and community ambulance services will wrap their vehicles around the square. Parking will be limited around the square, so attendees should park at the following locations: Andover Bank, 19 Public Square; Sparkle Market, 97 Public Square; Andover First United Methodist Church, 181 S. Main St.; and First Congregational Church of Christ, 170 E. Main St.
The service will begin with a candlelighted vigil and will include the singing of “God Bless America” by vocalist Tina Teter. Additional music will be a community choir formed from 21 area churches. The choir, under the direction of Teter, will sing songs from the patriotic cantata “Homeland.”
In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at Andover First United Methodist Church. For more information contact Hockran at H & H Enterprises or the Rev. John Germaine, president of the Pymatuning Valley Ministerial Association, at Cherry Valley UMC.
CONNEAUT
A ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. at the Rib Burnoff/Chili Cookoff at Conneaut Township Park on Lake Road. Police, firefighters and emergency responders have been invited to participate. The event is sponsored by American Legion Cowle Post 151.
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At 3 p.m., a remembrance will begin at the performance stage at Main and Washington streets in downtown Conneaut. The ceremony will begin with the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn). The Rev. Bob Tarasiak of Family Fellowship Foursquare Church in Conneaut will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer and provide Bible verses.
Songs will be provided by Jim Petrey, Vanessa Feltner and Mae Salter, of G.O. Ministries in Ashtabula. Crystal Latimer, director of “Friends for Life,” will speak. A service and refreshments will follow at Foursquare Church on Mill Street.
JEFFERSON
In Jefferson, a candlelight vigil and prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. in the Gazebo, across the street from the Old Courthouse. The Jefferson United Methodist Church is sponsoring the vigil, but the community is welcome to attend. The service will include prayers, bell-tolling and remembrances. Candles will be provided.
MADISON
The Madison Christian Ministers Association is hosting a one-hour community service at 7 p.m. in Madison Village Park on Main Street.
Also participating in the service will be the Madison High School band, Geneva and Madison fire departments, the American Legion, and local Cub and Boy Scouts. Bring a blanket or chair. In case of rain, the service will be moved to Central Congregational Church on the corner of Park and River streets.
PERRY
At 1:30 p.m., a tribute worship service will take place during the Perry Fall Festival at Perry Village Park on Call Road. The 7th annual festival runs from 12 to 5 p.m.
