9/11 remembered in Ohio

COLUMBUS – Central Ohioans and all other Americans are commemorating 9/11 with mournful ceremonies, volunteering, appeals to “never forget” and rising attention to the terror attacks’ extended toll on responders.

Governor DeWine has ordered that U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds throughout the state from sunrise Wednesday to honor the nearly 3,000 people who were killed when hijacked planes rammed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shankville, Pa., Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001.

De Wine is also asking all Ohioans to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time 18 years ago when the first plane struck the World Trade Center.

A display of 2,977 miniature U.S. flags have been set up on the west lawn of the Statehouse and will remain until Friday.

The City of Columbus, Franklin County and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum will host a ceremony at noon at the museum downtown.

The City of Hilliard’s ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. at First Responders Park.

A crowd of victims’ relatives is expected at ground zero in New York, while President Donald Trump is scheduled to join an observance at the Pentagon. Vice President Mike Pence is to speak at the third attack site, in Pennsylvania.

Former President George W. Bush, the commander-in-chief at the time of the 2001 attacks, is due at an afternoon wreath-laying at the Pentagon.