WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — This week, the town of Weaverville will memorialize the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001 with tributes from community leaders and live music from local performers.

9/11 Observance in Weaverville

The official Weaverville 9/11 Observance will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 11 at the Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr.

Scottie Harris, Weaverville Town Manager and United States Air Force Reserves veteran, will serve as the guest speaker. Harris previously served the Weaverville community as Weaverville Fire Chief. The Weaverville Fire Department and Weaverville Police Department Rifle Squad will present a video of “Taps” at the observance.

An invocation and benediction will be delivered at the memorial by Reverend Dr. Stuart Lamkin of the First Baptist Church of Weaverville.

The National Anthem and a medley of patriotic songs will be performed by the Valley Mountain A-Cappella Men’s Choir, directed by Clay Plemmons, and the program will conclude with a Harold Dusenbury bagpipes performance of “Amazing Grace.”

“Thank you to the Patriot Committee for organizing the event, as we honor those who lost their lives during an act of terrorism causing the deaths of 1,500 civilians, 343 members of the NYFD, 71 Law Enforcement Officers and 55 military personnel, not to mention the aftermath of people who died or had complications from toxins and/or mental health PTSD due to the rescue operations,” the town of Weaverville wrote on their website.

To support the mental health of local first responders and law enforcement officials, town officials suggest visiting the websites of organizations like the Stand TALL initiative and North Carolina Peer Support.