What: In recognition of the 17th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the City of Newark and University of Delaware will once again jointly host a Patriot Day ceremony. The ceremony will serve to honor and remember the thousands of Americans who lost their lives that day. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors from the honor guards of the Newark Police Department, University of Delaware Police Department, UD Air Force ROTC and UD Army ROTC, as well as remarks by Col. John Groth, AF (ret.), who served twenty-one years in the Reserves at McGuire and Dover Air Force Base (DAFB), and worked at the DAFB mortuary at the time of the attacks. A proclamation recognizing Patriot Day in the City of Newark will be presented and three American flags will also be placed in front of the Newark municipal building to represent the three locations directly impacted by the attacks: New York, NY, Shanksville, PA, and the Pentagon.

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to join the Newark Parks and Recreation Department for a National Day of Service at Olan Thomas Park. Volunteers can sign-up on-site or in advance by calling 302-366-7000 or emailing parksrec@newark.de.us. They will be tasked with removing litter and working on various park projects in the surrounding parks and along the Pomery Trail from 10 a.m. until noon.

Who: Mayor Polly Sierer, City of Newark

Col. John Groth, AF (ret.)

UD Representatives

Elected officials

Community members

When: Tuesday, September 11, at 9 a.m.

Where: Olan Thomas Park, 89 Paper Mill Road, Newark