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Free concert to remember 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

AP File Photo The Sept. 11, 2001, memorial in New York City is shown. It shows the footprints of the Twin Towers that were struck by hijacked planes that day

A free concert in remembrance of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States is slated for 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling.

Organized by Ohio Valley 9-11 Memorial Inc., the concert is meant to remind people of what happened that day.

The attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., killed thousands of people and sent the nation into a tailspin. It damaged the economy for years and forced the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the spending of trillions of dollars on new national security measures.

Each year memorials are held across the country and at the sites of where the hijacked airplanes crashed in an effort to remind people to “never forget.”

The public is invited to the 20th anniversary concert, especially local first responders and members of the military.

Featured musical acts will include the Ron Retzer Trio, the Honky Tonk Sweethearts and Ken Bonnell.

Taking part in the event will be American Legion Post 159 and the master of ceremonies will be Terry Lucarelli.

Martins Ferry resident Phil Wallace, co-founder of the Ohio Valley 9-11 Memorial, Inc., said the show is worth coming to help people remember what happened on that day.

“Militants took over four passenger planes loaded with passengers and loaded with fuel and caused death and mayhem in our country. Two airliners were flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, a third plane was flown into the Pentagon, and a third plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania with a total death toll of 2,996,” Wallace said. “Ohio Valley 9-11 Memorial, Inc. wants to help keep this on everyone’s minds, not only by giving the attendees information about that fateful day, but also give the music to relax and enjoy.”

Wallace believes some people may forget how many people died in the attacks, and others were not even born yet.

“A lot of people remember seeing what happened when the planes crashed, but I believe some people do not focus on how many lives were lost and how many families were torn with agony from losing loved ones,” Wallace said. “This show will give the youth of the Ohio Valley something to remember, because most or all of them were merely small children, or were not even born yet. Encouragement from parents to take their children will help give them some idea of what happened on Sept. 11, 2001.”

Event sponsors include ExxonMobil, United Bank, Main Street Bank, Ameriprise Financial, James C. Dawes Co. Inc., Community Bank and Belmont Savings Bank.

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