Events planned to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11
Multiple community events are planned for the weekend of Sept. 10-12 to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
The activities will start Friday, Sept. 10 with a remembrance ceremony at noon on the court square in Coshocton. Ken Smailes will emcee the event, Daniel Hamman will be the chaplain, and there will be speakers from the military, fire, EMS, sheriff and the Blue Star Mothers.
The ceremony is being planned by Brad Collmar, who spent 14 years in the Army and is a veteran of the Gulf War.
“I’ve done ceremonies from the beginning,” he said. “I did the first-year anniversary, the fifth, the 10th and now the 20th. I’m having it on Sept. 10, though, so the school kids can come. They need to know about our history,” Collmar said.
A 9/11 Military Appreciation Day for veterans, currently serving military and their families will be held Saturday, Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Park Pavilion.
There will be representatives from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Coshocton County Veterans Service Office, the Cleveland VA Benefits Claims Team, and the Zanesville VA Medical Clinic. Attendees will be able to enjoy veteran fishing sponsored by the Zanesville VA CBOC Peer Support Services, a cornhole tournament, bingo, and food and drinks for veterans, active duty and their immediate family.
Veterans and service members must show proof of status with their ID card or DD214.
The appreciation day is being sponsored by the Blue Star Mothers Coshocton OH59 and Operations Veterans Helping Veterans.
“We are thrilled to be doing a veterans picnic,” said Sharon Burns, president of the local Blue Star Mothers chapter. “We’ve helped with the Zanesville picnic for years, and every now and then, our veterans will go, but a lot of these guys are getting older and not able to go. We will have golf carts there too to help them up the hill to the pavilion.”
Burns also wanted to share that her group is looking for military families who have not yet received their blue star flag. Families are welcome to call her at 740-502-0169 or call the veterans service office at 740-622-2313.
The AMVETS Post 36 will host its Honor and Respect Day on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. at the post on Otsego Avenue.
The late Don Carpenter and other COVID-19 victims will be honored along with veterans, first responders and frontline workers.
Food and drinks will be provided by the Ladies Auxiliary and the Sons of the AMVETS. There will be live music, a military vehicle and jeep show and more.
Carpenter was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a first responder in Coshocton County.
“I along with our family feel very honored that Don is being recognized for his decades of service to his country and his community,” said Donna Carpenter, who is Don’s widow. “He truly loved his life of selfless service and never was one to expect recognition. He would say, ‘I am nobody special. I am just doing a job I love to do.’ He also loved being a husband, father and grandfather, aka ‘Pappy.’ There is a large hole in our hearts that will never heal, but our memories will last forever. He was one of a kind.”
The weekend of honor and respect wraps up Sunday, Sept. 12 with First Responder Appreciation Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at the Coshocton Church of the Nazarene. First-responder organizations are encouraged to send at least one representative to the service.
“We want to honor the hard work and devotion you show every day,” Pastor Andy Bird said. “Your service is vital to the people of our county, and we appreciate you.”
Category: People & Places
