Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS - Rockdale County and city of Conyers officials will join together for a memorial service Friday morning to remember the lives lost during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.Residents are invited to gather at 9:45 a.m. at the flagpole outside the Rockdale County courthouse on Main Street to observe the eighth anniversary of the attacks.The short program includes a moment of silence, the laying of a memorial wreath and a few words to encourage local public safety employees from Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wigington, the Rockdale County Emergency Services Department, the National EMS and city of Conyers representatives.Rockdale County Commission Chairman Richard Oden encouraged residents and county employees to take a moment to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks, in which hijacked jetliners struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and a third hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, killing everyone aboard."For those who are able, I encourage you to join our local public safety personnel at the courthouse ... and I encourage all citizens to remember the victims of the 9/11 tragedy and participate in honoring those not only lost on Sept. 11, 2001, but all those lost before and since in keeping this country free, safe and truly the best place on Earth," Oden said in a written statement.Friday's program will be simplier than in past years. Last year, there were two moments of silence observed at 9:59 a.m. - the time the South Tower of the World Trade Center fell - and again at 10:28 a.m. - the time the WTC North Tower fell.During the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks in 2006, the times the towers fell were marked with sirens sounding throughout Olde Town from the public safety and first responder vehicles.Alena Parker can be reached at alena.parker@rockdalecitizen.com.