To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, the University of Maine at Presque Isle, in partnership with the City of Presque Isle, will host a memorial ceremony and remembrance walk on Friday, Sept. 11 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the flag pole in front of Preble Hall. Campus and community members are invited to attend this special event.
“September 11th is a day that lives on in our hearts—those who were alive in 2001 remember where they were the moment they heard the terrible news—and a quarter century later, it is important to mark the day, ensure younger generations understand its significance, and provide a space for thought and reflection,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “Everyone is invited to gather and remember the shocking events of that fateful day in our history, to honor our first responders, and to celebrate our collective resilience in the face of tragedy.”
“As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, we come together not only to remember the lives lost, but also to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service that followed,” Presque Isle City Manager Sonja Eyler said. “The City of Presque Isle is proud to join UMPI in creating a meaningful opportunity for our community to reflect, walk together, and reaffirm our gratitude for the first responders who continue to serve and protect us every day.”
The 9/11 commemorative event will begin with a brief ceremony. Its location in front of Preble Hall holds special significance for the UMPI campus as it served as the spot where students, faculty, and staff gathered in 2001, just a few days after the events of 9/11, for a memorial service in remembrance of the victims.
During the ceremony, President Rice and City Manager Eyler will deliver remarks on behalf of UMPI and the City of Presque Isle, respectively, and then, precisely at 8:46 a.m., when the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, the gathering will observe a moment of silence. Those who choose to participate in the remembrance walk will then be directed to the north end of campus to complete a less than one-mile loop along the main driveway and through the campus walkways, led by local first responders.
Along the walk route where Presque Isle Police and Fire Department first responder vehicles will be stationed, participants will be able to view signs that provide important facts about 9/11 as well as a narrative timeline of events—from the crashes at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, to the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 attempting to reclaim control of the cockpit from hijackers, to the collapse of the Twin Towers.
At the end of the walk, upon returning to the flag pole in front of Preble Hall, attendees will be encouraged to take a remembrance pin and connect with fellow participants for a moment of reflection before dispersing.
No classes will be held at UMPI on Friday, Sept. 11 until 10 a.m. to allow all members of campus to attend the ceremony and walk. The Preble Hall driveway and parking lot will be shut down from 7 to 9:30 a.m. The campus driveway will be shut down between the north entrance of campus and Gentile Hall, and partially shut down between Gentile Hall and the tennis court parking lots, between 8:30 and 9 a.m. The south entrance of campus will remain open throughout the event duration. Older community members and those with mobility issues are encouraged to park in the Normal Hall parking lot ahead of the event. All others are encouraged to park in the North parking lot or Center for Innovative Learning parking lot and walk to Preble Hall. For parking lot and driveway locations, view the UMPI campus map at umpi.edu/about//campus-map.
For more information about this event, contact Melissa Lizotte at (207) 768-9452 or melissa.m.lizotte@maine.edu.