Never Forget: How Fayetteville, GA and Bluffton, SC Are Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11

Pull up a chair — and take a quiet moment this week. Because this Friday, September 11, 2026, our communities across Georgia and South Carolina are coming together to do something powerful: remember.

Twenty-five years ago, the September 11 attacks changed our country forever. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost. Thousands of first responders ran toward the danger when everyone else was running away. And a nation that had rarely paused to notice its neighbors suddenly reached out, held hands, and found strength in community.

This Friday evening and Saturday morning, two communities in our coverage area are hosting meaningful events to mark the 25th anniversary. Here's what's happening nearby — and how you can be part of it.

What's Happening Around the Village

Fayetteville, GA: 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony — Friday, September 11

The City of Fayetteville, Georgia is hosting a free public 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony this Friday, September 11, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at City Center Park, 210 Stonewall Avenue West.

The evening promises to be both solemn and uplifting — the kind of community moment that reminds you why it matters to live close to home.

The program includes:

• Presentation of Colors by the Fayette County High School Army J.R.O.T.C. Unit

• Musical Tributes performed by the Fayette County High School Chorus

• Bagpipes by the Threlkeld Academy of Music and Arts

• A special helicopter flyover by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation

• Reflections from the Mayor and distinguished guest speakers

• A Tribute in Light to close the evening — illuminating the sky in honor of the fallen

The event is free and open to all members of the public. No registration required — just show up, bring your family, and bring a heart full of gratitude. #NeverForget

Bluffton, SC: 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial 5K Run/Walk — Saturday, September 12

Just across the state line, the Bluffton community in South Carolina is honoring the 25th anniversary with something equally powerful — movement, purpose, and community support.

The Bluffton Firefighter Foundation is hosting its inaugural 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in partnership with Palmetto Running Company. Proceeds benefit the Firefighter Emergency Fund — a direct lifeline for local firefighters and their families facing injury, illness, or unexpected hardship.

Event categories include:

• 5K Adults

• 5K Firefighters & First Responders

• Kids 12 and under 5K

• Kids 8 and under 400 Meter Fun Run

All participants receive a commemorative race shirt and finisher's medal. Packet pick-up is Friday, September 11 from 3:00–6:00 PM at Palmetto Running Company in Bluffton. Register at RunSignup.com.

Why It Matters

Twenty-five years is a long time. And yet, for so many families — the children who lost parents, the first responders still carrying the weight of that day, the communities that were changed forever — September 11 is not history. It's still deeply personal.

These local commemorations matter because they remind us that remembrance is not a passive act. It's a choice. When we show up on a Friday evening in Fayetteville, or lace up our running shoes in Bluffton on a Saturday morning, we're making a statement: We have not forgotten. We are still grateful. We still care for the people who protect us.

The village grows stronger when neighbors show up for each other — especially in moments that call us to be something bigger than ourselves.

How This Impacts Our Community

For families with children, events like the Fayetteville ceremony offer something priceless: a chance to pass down the story of September 11 in a way that honors, rather than frightens. Standing at City Center Park, watching the Tribute in Light, and hearing the Fayette County High School Chorus sing — that's a lesson no textbook can replace.

For our first responders in Bluffton and across the Lowcountry, the Memorial 5K sends a message that their community sees them — not just on the hardest days, but on ordinary ones too. The Firefighter Emergency Fund means that when one of our own faces a medical crisis or unexpected hardship, they don't face it alone.

And for all of us — parents, grandparents, veterans, young professionals, retirees — these events give us a place to stand together and remember that America's greatest strength has never been its skyline. It's always been its people.

How You Can Get Involved

Here's how you can be part of the 25th anniversary remembrance:

• Attend the Fayetteville 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony — Friday, September 11, 6:00–7:30 PM at City Center Park, 210 Stonewall Avenue West, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Free and open to the public.

• Register for the Bluffton 9/11 Memorial 5K — Saturday, September 12 in Bluffton, SC. Visit RunSignup.com to register. All ages and abilities welcome.

• Donate to the Bluffton Firefighter Foundation to support first responders and their families through the Firefighter Emergency Fund.

• Take a moment with your family to share your September 11 memories with your children — keeping the story alive is one of the most powerful things we can do.

• Thank a first responder — a firefighter, EMT, or police officer in your community. A simple 'thank you' means more than you know.

• Share this article with neighbors, family, and friends so more people in our community can participate and show up.

• Observe a moment of silence at 8:46 AM on Friday — the time the first plane struck the North Tower — wherever you are.

Around the Village Calendar

• Friday, September 11, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 PM — 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony, City Center Park, Fayetteville, GA. Free & open to the public.

• Friday, September 11, 2026 | 3:00–6:00 PM — Bluffton 5K Packet Pick-Up at Palmetto Running Company, Bluffton, SC.

• Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial 5K Run/Walk, Bluffton, SC. Register at RunSignup.com.

• Tuesday, September 22, 2026 — Main Street Golf Tournament, Whitewater Creek Country Club, 175 Birkdale Dr, Fayetteville, GA (supporting Main Street Fayetteville programs).

• October 6–10, 2026 — Flint River Fair, Earle May Boat Basin, Bainbridge, GA. Mark your calendars!

Sophie's Suggestions

As you reflect on this week's anniversary, here are a few meaningful picks from Sophie's Mart that feel right for the moment:

• Sympathy Dove Tree Growing Kit | Memorial & Remembrance Gift ($21.50) — Honor the memory of someone lost with a living tribute. Plant a tree that grows as a symbol of the life they gave. A beautiful, meaningful way to remember those who are no longer here. Perfect for families looking to mark this anniversary with something lasting. Shop at sophiesmart.com/product-page/sympathy-dove-tree-growing-kit-memorial-remembrance-gift

• Plant a Tree Gift Kit | Eco-Friendly Tree Growing Gift ($21.50) — A thoughtful gift for a first responder, veteran, or anyone in your life who deserves recognition this week. Give something that grows, just like the gratitude we carry. Shop at sophiesmart.com/product-page/plant-a-tree-gift-kit-eco-friendly-tree-growing-gift

• Moses & Burke Abstract Signature Tumbler ($20.00) — Heading to the Fayetteville ceremony or lacing up for the Bluffton 5K? Stay hydrated and carry the day in style. Built to move. Designed to last. Shop at sophiesmart.com/product-page/moses-burke-abstract-signature-tumbler

Around the Village Takeaway

Twenty-five years later, the most powerful thing we can do is still the simplest: show up, stand together, and never forget the people who gave everything so the village could carry on.

This content was generated by AI.