Contact: James Logan
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State's Maroon Volunteer Center again is joining with Volunteer Starkville to observe the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with various activities next week.
Titled "Serving Those Who Served Us," an open-to-all appreciation event will take place 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday [Sept. 10] at local fire stations, as well as the Starkville Police Department and Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office.
University organizers said the observance is designed to give community members the opportunity to "serve those who serve us" by volunteering to wash fire trucks, clean stations, mow grass, or provide other cleaning services that assist local responders.
Volunteers should register online at http://mvc.msstate.edu/, with the first 50 signing up to receive a 9/11 logo T-shirt.
Maroon Volunteer Center representatives will be providing MSU student volunteers with transportation to and from the designated service sites.
Two local Wednesday [the 11th] events also are scheduled in remembrance of 9/11. They include:
--Starkville Public Library, University Drive at Montgomery Street, 3:30-5 p.m., "Remembering 9/11â¦Story Time with Local Heroes." Fire, police and emergency medical technician responders will explain their duties to children, followed by a book reading and opportunity to participate in a 9/11 Postcard Coloring Service Project.
--Starkville's Fire Station, 503 East Lampkin St., 5:30 p.m., 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Ceremony and Awareness Fair. Also open to all, the ceremony begins with a tribute to local community members in service, as well as the victims and heroes of the 2001 New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania terrorist attacks. The fair follows at 6 p.m., with fire and police vehicles and an ambulance on-site for children to explore, along with face painting and coloring activities.
Additionally at the fire station will be an "I WILL" Tribute Booth to provide older participants a place to compose thank you notes to local heroes and veterans, and receive information about the first response, disaster preparedness and veteran-related organizations and services in the community.