Flyover part of local 9/11 events

A flyover by two F-16s and a ceremony at Montana State University-Northern will be part of the local observances Wednesday of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Here is a roundup of events scheduled for that day.

The American Legion has organized all church bells to ring at the moment that each of the four planes crashed, beginning at 6:45 a.m., 7:03 a.m., 7:43 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Van Orsdel United Methodist Church will have special prayer services at 7:30 a.m. and again at 8 a.m.

A ceremony will be held at the Havre Fire Department starting at 7:45 a.m. A fire bell will play the "Four Fives," a firefighters' mourning song, at the times each of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. The event also will include a flag-lowering ceremony. A reception will follow.

At noon, the American Legion will host a commemorative ceremony outside the Hill County Courthouse. Speakers will include Mayor Bob Rice, Police Chief Kevin Olson, American Legion Commander Rick Wyer and Rev. John Chapman. The Havre High School band will perform.

The Havre Fire Department will again play the "Four Fives." Officials will will lay a wreath at the southwest corner of the courthouse. A bell will toll for each of the 11 conflicts the United States has been involved in during its history.

At 12:45 p.m. two F-16s from the 120th Fighter Wing of the Montana Air National Guard will do a flyover. A veterans honor guard will do a rifle squad salute, followed by two high school students playing "Taps."

St. Jude Thaddeus School will hold a 9/11 prayer service on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Jude Church. Students, teachers and staffers are preparing to join in prayer to remember the devastation, to pray for all of those affected by the tragedy and to offer hope for the future. All are welcome to join the students at the service. Everyone also is encouraged to wear red, white and blue as a sign of unity. As a way to encourage students to help others, canned food and loose change will be collected as part of the service. The collection will be used to help the needy in the community.

Sept. 11 will be commemorated at Montana State University-Northern with an outdoor ceremony at the flagpole at 11:40 a.m., where the university community is invited to gather for a "Time of Reflection and Remembrance." The program will include brief remarks by Chancellor Alex Capdeville, music played by the university's radio station, and a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives and families who lost their loved ones.

The event will include a reading by Kris Dramstad, a song by the Rev. Steve Flatau, a reading by Ruth Wardell, and a performance of "Amazing Grace" by Scottish bagpipes. A Havre firefighter will attend as a representative of the firefighters lost during Sept. 11.

Throughout the week, flowers may be laid at the base of the flagpole at Northern in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the attack. The campus community will have an opportunity to write reflections and thoughts on four Sept. 11 Remembrance boards located throughout the campus one in the front entrance of Cowan Hal, one in the walkway in front of the library, one outside the College of Education Dean's Office at the lower level Cowan Hall, and one in the front entrance of the Student Union Building.

Our Savior's Lutheran Parish in Rudyard will have a Sept. 11 Remembrance interdenominational service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

On Wednesday from 8 to 9 p.m., a candlelight songfest will be held on the steps of the Liberty Village Arts Center in Chester. Singers and nonsingers of all ages are needed. No rehearsal is required. The songs will be standard patriotic songs like "America," "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America." Lyrics will be provided at the time of the songfest.

The Havre Jaycees have decided not to hold fireworks at the Hill County Fairgrounds at 9:11 p.m. Wednesday.