On Friday, Central Illinoisans will honor the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Gies Memorial Stadium
At 7:46 am on Friday, participants will climb the equivalent of the 110 stories as the new videoboard shows news footage captured on that fateful morning 25 years ago. The climb begins at the time the first airline hit the World Trade Center in New York City.
At 10:00 am, there will be a ceremony at the stadium featuring University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Charles Isbell, Athletic Director Josh Whitman, and Champaign City Council members.
The city of Champaign says its joint first responder Honor Guard will assist at the university DIA event at Memorial Stadium.
On Saturday, prior to the Fighting Illini football game against Duke, a giant American flag will span the entire field during the singing of the national anthem.
Decatur
There will be a ceremony Friday at 6:30 pm at the Decatur 9/11 Memorial along Lake Decatur in Nelson Park. The steel memorial was made with a 13 1/2 foot tall I-beam from the World Trade Center.
Editor’s Note: The city of Champaign says the West Side Park event will not be held this year. IPM has updated this story. We apologize for the error.