Saturday, September 11, 2021
9:00 am
Held at the Jacksonville City Cemetery at the intersection of Church Ave and James Street.
Saturday, September 11, is the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States of America. The mother of one of the Soldiers who died at The Pentagon that day is hosting the Annual Remembrance Ceremony in Jacksonville September 11 at 9:00 a.m.
Pearl Williams’ son, U.S. Army Maj. Dwayne Williams, died at The Pentagon that day. Pearl Williams invites everyone to attend the ceremony that will be held in the Jacksonville City Cemetery. The cemetery is located at the intersection of Church Avenue and James Street. (The inclement weather plan is to move the ceremony to the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville at 230 Seventh Street, NE.)
Pearl Williams will be unable to attend this year’s ceremony due to a recent illness. Another son, Roy Williams, a former journalist who lives in Birmingham, will represent the Family. He will bring greetings to all from his mother, and pay tribute to his brother Dwayne and the thousands of others who died in the terrorist attack.
Retired U.S. Air Force Brig.Gen. Jeffrey L. Newton will speak during the ceremony. The General is the Assistant Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. Newton began a 41-year military career as an enlisted Airman in February 1980 with the Alabama Air National Guard 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1989. The General was the first Air Force component Director of the Joint Staff for the Alabama National Guard when he retired earlier this year.
Other participants in the ceremony include Rev. Derek Staples, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville; Dr. William A. Snow, Jr., Edgewood Church, Anniston; Mrs. Albertha Grant, City of Jacksonville; Dr. Lori J. Owens, Jacksonville State University; Calhoun County Commissioner Lee Patterson; The JSU ROTC Cadet Color Guard; Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade and the Calhoun County Sheriff Honor Guard; Mr. Jason Wright, Piedmont High School; and Ms. Annie Ingram and Mr. Peter ‘The Patriot’ Leavitt.
For more information please contact the organizers. For a full list of local events click here.
