Madera, Coarsegold to Mark 25 Years Since 9/11

A steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center will provide a tangible connection to Sept. 11, 2001, as residents gather in Madera on Friday to mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks.

Madera County’s annual remembrance begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Courthouse Park, 210 W. Yosemite Ave. The public is invited.

The ceremony will honor the victims of the attacks and the firefighters and other first responders whose service and sacrifice remain central to the day’s remembrance.

The program includes a presentation of colors, keynote speeches, a live performance of Taps and a last alarm tribute.

A Piece of History Close to Home

At the center of the firefighter memorial is a salvaged steel beam from the World Trade Center, donated to Madera County by Sims Metal.

The artifact brings a physical piece of that history to a community thousands of miles from New York.

According to the county’s announcement, the memorial honors fallen firefighters locally, across California and throughout the country, including those who entered burning buildings to save lives on Sept. 11.

The memorial site is alongside the Law Enforcement and Veterans Memorial in historic Courthouse Park, bringing these tributes to service together in one public place.

Remembering Across Generations

The Sept. 11 attacks killed 2,977 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Twenty-five years later, the anniversary carries different meanings across generations. Many adults remember where they were when they first heard the news. Younger residents know the day through family accounts, classrooms, photographs and memorials.

Friday’s gathering offers a place for those generations to remember together, honoring the people who died and the responders who put themselves in danger to help others.

Madera County encourages residents to attend the public ceremony.

Coarsegold Remembrance Also Planned

A separate Remembering 9/11 gathering is planned Friday at Coarsegold Historic Village, 35300 Highway 41, near the Veterans Memorial.

An event booth will be open from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with a flag wave from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Flags will be available, or participants may bring their own.

An optional prayer for the state and nation is scheduled for noon.

Participants are encouraged to bring a chair or stool. Some shade will be available, and attendees may bring additional shade.