This year will mark the 17th anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor the 2,996 people killed and more than 6,000 others injured, Boston will hold several Sept. 11 memorial services in and around the city.
Early Tuesday morning, at 8:30 a.m., the first of the day’s public Sept. 11 memorial services will be held on the Massachusetts State House Lawn. That 9/11 service will commemorate the thousands killed in the terror attack with a flag lowering, a moment of silence and a reading of the names of the victims. This event is expected to be live-streamed on malegislature.gov.
Throughout the morning Tuesday, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the USS Constitution will be firing her cannon “to commemorate the tragic loss of life and historic significance of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.” The public is invited to attend the commemoration, free of charge. Boarding of the ship will commence at 8:30 a.m.
Details on the USS Constitution free Sept. 11 memorial services
Throughout the morning, Constitution crew members will be firing one-gun salutes from the Gun Deck of USS Constitution and playing taps at the following times:
8:46 a.m. – Firing one-gun salute marking the impact of American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
9:03 a.m. – Firing one-gun salute marking the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
9:37 a.m. – Firing one-gun salute marking the impact of American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
9:59 a.m. – Taps played from USS Constitution marking the collapse of the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
10:03 a.m. – Firing one-gun salute, immediately followed by the playing of taps marking the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Somerset County, Penn.
10:10 a.m. – Taps played from USS Constitution marking the primary collapse of the stricken section of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
10:28 a.m. – Taps played from USS Constitution marking the collapse of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.
Boston 9/11 wreath-laying ceremony 2018 and Logan Airport Memorial
Later Tuesday, at 1 p.m., the public can pay their respects at the second major Sept. 11 memorial service in Boston — the wreath-laying ceremony at the Boston Public Garden. The wreath laying specifically will be held in the 9/11 Contemplative Garden.
The Boston Logan Airport 9/11 Memorial will also be open to the public all day on Tuesday. Logan’s memorial has been open to all 24 hours a day, seven days a week since its dedication on Sept. 9, 2008.
According to Logan, “The Logan Airport 9/11 Memorial is a permanent memorial that honors the passengers and crews of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, the two planes that departed Logan Airport for Los Angeles, but were hijacked by terrorists who flew them into the World Trade Towers in New York. It was a dark day for humanity.”
Another noteworthy Sept. 11 memorial service happening on Tuesday morning — at 9:30 a.m. there will be a commemoration observation and Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery presentation at the Massachusetts State House Chamber of the House of Representatives.
