9/11 memorial service to be held Downtown
Published September 5, 2023; 5:05 p.m.

9/11 Memorial March; image by Jeaneane Payne

KNOXVILLE - Mayor Indya Kincannon and other City leaders will observe the 22nd anniversary of the September 11th attacks at the annual wreath laying ceremony at the City County Building.

That ceremony will take place Monday at the 9/11 Memorial on the lawn of the City County Building at 400 Main St. at 8:40 a.m.

At 8:46 a.m. there will be a moment of silence and then First Baptist Church will ring its bells to mark the time hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Mayor Kincannon, KPD Chief Paul Noel, KFD Chief Stan Sharp, and a Knox County representative will present a wreath and flowers at the base of the 9/11 monument. The black granite obelisk was made by Randy Vaden and installed in 2003.

Main Street will be closed to traffic between Walnut and Gay streets starting at 8:20 and KAT’s free trolleys will cease operation during the ceremony. All traffic should resume, no later than 9:15 a.m.

Following that event, many area leaders will then take part in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Memorial Stair Climb at the Sunsphere in World’s Fair Park.

The climb will pay tribute to the 343 firefighters who gave their lives at the World Trade Center 22 years ago.