Team Sussex,

Today we pause in solemn remembrance of September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed our nation. Each of us remembers where we were when we first heard the news, saw the images, and felt the weight of what was unfolding. For parents, that day brought the impossible challenge of answering questions no child should have to ask. I still recall standing in front of the television, asking my mother why planes were flying into the buildings. It was a moment that marked the end of innocence for so many families across our country.

Twenty-four years later, we all find our own way to honor and remember. For some, it is prayer or quiet reflection. For others, it is service or time spent with loved ones. For me, my work has at times taken me into the Pentagon, where walking through its doors is a quiet reminder of both the sacrifice of that day and the resilience of our nation.

And while September 11 was a day of unimaginable loss, the days that followed revealed the best of America. On September 12, courage poured out of everyday citizens and first responders alike. Neighbors cared for neighbors, and communities stood united. That same spirit can still be seen today in the firehouse alarm, in flashing emergency lights rushing to someone’s aid, and in the selfless acts of kindness that bind us together.

As we honor the memory of those we lost, let us also carry forward the courage and unity we witnessed on September 12. May it continue to inspire us as a nation, not just in times of tragedy, but in the way we live, serve, and care for one another every day.

God bless those we lost, their families, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Daniel Willis,

Chairman, Sussex County Republican Party

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Most of the 9/11 Memorial Events listed below were included in a post by Delmarva Live of WBOC. We thank them for taking the time to compile and share the list.

This list may not include all events taking place in Sussex County Delaware and nearby Maryland. Plans for the events below may have changed since the information was gathered. 

Lewes DE – Whitford Family Patriot Day Service.

5 p.m. on September 11 the Whitford family invites the public to their annual Patriot Day Service at 17181 Minos Conaway Road, Lewes. The memorial honors their son Mark, a firefighter lost on 9/11, and all 2,977 victims. Visitors are welcome year-round.

Millsboro DE - American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 Candlelight Ceremony.

6 p.m. on September 11, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 28 will hold its annual public candlelight ceremony at the American Legion Riders Chapter 28 Millsboro De pavilion, 31768 Legion Road, Millsboro.

Dover DE - 9/11 Memorial at AMC Museum

Outside the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB stands a permanent 9/11 memorial featuring two steel pieces from the North Tower, a rock from the Flight 93 crash site, and a Pentagon block—a reflective site for personal visits on or before the anniversary.

Bethany Beach DE - Special 9/11 Flag Salute & Prayer Bethany Beach Boardwalk

Join fellow local citizens at the Bethany Beach Boardwalk by the bandstand on this solemn day as we honor the Americans who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, in New York City, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania countryside of the downed United Airlines Flight 93. That day united our nation like few others, in our shared sorrow, and our shared strength. Let us remember those who fell and the unity and love for our nation and neighbors that we experienced in the months following these events. We will gather at 8 a.m., with a prayer and flag salute at 8:30 a.m.

Oceanview DE - VFW Post 7234 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

29265 Marshy Hope Way, Delaware 19970

On Thursday, September 11, beginning at 8:30 AM, Mason - Dixon VFW Post 7234 will host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony marking the 24th Anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Ceremony will take place in the Post Parking Lot near the Gazebo and will include participation by the Post Honor Guard, music by Bernie Busby, and a giant U.S. Flag display provided by ProWorks. The Ceremony will last less than an hour. It is open to all Post Members and the Public. In the case of inclement weather, the Ceremony will be moved indoors.

Ocean City MD – Remembrance Beams of Light & Daily Evening Memorials.

The Ocean City Fire Department will present twin “Beams of Light” from dusk through September 11 at the Firefighter’s Memorial on North Division Street and the Boardwalk, accompanied nightly by Taps and family-oriented video tributes, leading up to a morning tribute from 8:46 a.m. to 10:28 a.m. and a joint memorial service at 12 p.m. on September 11. 

Ocean City MD – “Parade of Brothers” motorcycle ride and memorial service.

The MD3 Red Knights Motorcycle Club will host the 23rd Annual “Parade of Brothers” on September 11. Registration begins at 27th Street & Boardwalk at 10 a.m., ride begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 12 p.m. at North Division Street and the Boardwalk, then a scenic ride through Delmarva ending at Roxana Moose Lodge around 1 p.m.

Salisbury MD - City of Salisbury, Maryland, through its Fire and Police Departments, will host a remembrance ceremony on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Fire Station 16 to honor the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.