As they have for several years, the Escalon Consolidated Fire Protection District will present a community ‘Moment of Silence and Prayer’ on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The ceremony will be staged outside the firehouse on Coley Avenue and will begin at 9:11 a.m.; commemorating the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the coordinated attacks; two hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third targeted the Pentagon and a fourth was forced down in a field in rural Pennsylvania, as passengers fought back against the hijackers and kept the plane from reaching its intended target.

In Escalon, the observance includes the moment of silence, a detailing and timeline of the incidents of that day, and provides updated information on the number of first responders and emergency services personnel lost not only in response to the initial terrorist attacks, but those that have also fallen victim to a variety of illnesses stemming from the conditions they worked in during the search and rescue efforts in the aftermath. There is also music and a bell ringing ceremony.

Also remembered during the service is the late James R. Layton, a Navy corpsman killed in action in Afghanistan in September, 2009. He enlisted in the service in the wake of the attacks and the subsequent War on Terror.

The late Jim Davis, who served as chaplain for the fire department for many years, is also remembered.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend; there is some seating available. The event is hosted outside the fire station at 1749 Coley.