Guv proclaims 9/11 as 'Patriot Day'

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed an executive order proclaiming Sept. 11 as “Patriot Day - A Day of Prayer and Remembrance.” 

The order directs the American and state flags be flown at half-staff. 

It also calls for Mississippians to participate in a moment of silence beginning at 7:46 a.m. to honor the victims who perished as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in NYC and the Pentagon. (Clarion Ledger 09/10/23) 

North MS fire depts 'climb' for 9/11 

The Tupelo firefighters' Ladies Auxiliary hosted the seventh annual 9-11 stair climb on Sept. 9. Firefighters, law enforcement and civilians climbed 110 floors in honor of first responders of 9/11 in NYC. 

Those who participated walked around the Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo three times, which is the equivalent of 110 floors - the height of each World Trade Center building. 

The stair climb remembers the 343 members of the New York fire department that lost their lives on that day. Each climber wore a memorial badge for the first responder he or she represented. 

About 25 fire departments from North Mississippi participated this year, according to organizer Melinda Monts. 

Two Mississippians were among those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks at the Pentagon. Lt. Col. Jerry Don Dickerson Jr., 41, was inside the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into it. Joe Ferguson, 39, who grew up with Dickerson in Durant, was aboard the plane.

Louisiana to remember 5 lost on 9/11

Louisiana will be remembering five state residents who were killed in the 9/11 attacks in 2001. 

Three died serving at the Pentagon. Two were at the World Trade Centers in NYC. 

Here are the state natives killed on 9/11: 

* Navy Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, 31, from Baton Rouge.

* Louis Calvin Williams III, 53, VP and investment management consultant with the Finnish import company was from Mandeville.

* Navy Petty Officer Kevin Wayne Yokum, 27, an information systems technician second class was from Lake Charles.

* Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Farmer, 62, a New Orleans native, who in her youth sang on Bourbon Street with Al Hirt and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. She was an executive assistant at Cantor Fitzgerald in the WTC.

* Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Joseph Hymel, 55, of New Orleans.  He was a former B-52 pilot who served in the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon after retiring from service in 1993. (WWL 09/10/23)