9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies Happening All Across Louisiana This Weekend

Commemoration ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks will dot the landscape of Louisiana this weekend.  New Orleans has a "Tribute to Service" program underway. Barksdale Air Force Base, where President Bush first spoke to the nation after the attacks, will hold a ceremony Sunday. And in Downtown Lafayette, Lafayette Consolidated Government will hold a memorial service. It'll be at Parc Sans Souci from 8 am to 9 am. Public officials and representatives from local religious groups will be there, as well as public safety officials. Lafayette Fire Chief Robert Benoit will honor the heroic New York City Firefighters in a speech. And Lieutenant Colonel David Gooch of the 256th Infanty Brigade Combat Team in Lafayette will speak as well.

A ceremony will be held at UL Lafayette's 9/11 Memorial, which is near the intersection of Girard Park Drive and Saint Mary Boulevard on the grounds of the Alumni Center. The event will begin at 10:15 a.m. It will include presentations by the UL Lafayette ROTC, the Student Government Association and campus ministries. UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie will also speak. Robert Hymel, an alumnus who was killed in the terrorist attacks, will be remembered as well.

Special Sunday Services observing the tenth anniversary of 9-11 are being put on by Veterans homes throughout the state. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Lane Carson  says the services will feature a memorial slide show, a fitting tribute to honor 130 of our state's fallen men and women. Carson says there will be five separate showings in Central, Reserve, Jennings, Monroe and Bossier City. For more information on one of these events nearest your area, go to vetaffairs.la.gov.