9/11 Morning of Remembrance Ceremony

2025 Recap

Each year, we take a moment to honor those who were lost in the tragic events of September 11, 2001, as well as local heroes who have sacrificed their lives in service to the community and country since that time through a Morning of Remembrance Ceremony on September 11th.

2025 Speakers:

• United States Army Major General Robin Stilwell,
  Adjutant General of the State of South Carolina,

• Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette

• Dan Hennigan, Chairman and Founder of the 9/11 Remembrance Foundation

• Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott

• Austin Rodgers, Chief, Ridge Spring FD

• Diane Rawl, Gold Star Mother

• Dawn Yamashiro, 9/11 Family Member, 9/11 Remembrance Foundation Board Member

• Chris Bernard, 9/11 Remembrance Foundation Board Member

We pay special tribute to Circle Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chad Thatcher and Firefighter Landon Bodie, who lost their lives responding to an emergency during Hurricane Helene. To Trooper Dennis Ricks of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. To Richland County Sheriff Department K9s Bumi and Kodak who were lost in the line of duty.

The 2026 Morning of Remembrance Ceremony will take place on Friday, September 11th, 2026 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The ceremony will begin at approx 8:40am.

The 9/11 Military Service Members & First Responders Memorial

Erected in 2011, the Columbia 9/11 & First Responders monument is a shining beacon of remembrance for our fallen First Responders from South Carolina. Located at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the monument is comprised of two steel beams from the World Trade Center South Tower, and two granite pillars etched with the names of the 60 South Carolina First Responders killed in the line of duty since its erection.

WIS10 VIDEO: Dan Hennigan, Founder & Chairman of 9/11 Remembrance Foundation of South Carolina

2020 “Midland’s Wall of Remembrance” Unveiling

Columbia, S.C. - In the ninth year of the 9/11 Remembrance Foundation of South Carolina’s history, the foundation was able to add another memorialization of fallen first responders and military service members from the Midlands. Styled after the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance, the wall erected in August 2020 is dedicated to the fallen first responders and military service members of the midlands that have died in the line of duty since 2001. The wall, directly behind the Columbia 9/11 & First Responders monument, mounts granite plaques for each of the fallen who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The 9/11 Remembrance Foundation of South Carolina would like to thank all of its sponsors for making this tribute to our fallen heroes possible. We would also like to extend a special thanks to Ron Clamp and Memorial Design.