Local 9/11 remembrances happening today
Heartland Patriots Festival: 9/11 Remembrance
The Heartland Patriots Festival 9/11 Remembrance in Joplin, Missouri, is a key event held on September 11, 2025, at the Sgt. Robert Wayne Crow, Jr. National Guard Armory, 2000 W. 32nd St. Starting at 9 a.m., the ceremony features wreath-layings, a rifle salute by local veterans, and speeches from Missouri National Guard representatives, honoring the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. A guest speaker, retired Col. Elena Vasquez, a Joplin native who deployed to Iraq in 2003, addresses the impact on military families. The event transitions into a veteran’s expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., showcasing resources, military vehicle displays, and booths from organizations like the VFW and American Legion. Interactive elements include a kids’ coloring station with 9/11-themed prints and a blood drive with The Blood Center. Proceeds support suicide prevention programs, reflecting the ongoing toll of post-9/11 service. Part of the Four States region’s festival, it includes food trucks and live patriotic music, fostering reflection and community connection.
Patriot Day of Remembrance
The annual Patriot Day of Remembrance is an event organized by the Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) ROTC program to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It aligns with the national Patriot Day observance established by Congress in 2001. The event typically features solemn activities such as reading the names of the 2,977 victims, firing an ROTC cannon at key times marking the attacks (e.g., 8:46 a.m. for the first plane strike on the World Trade Center), and other tributes to foster remembrance and educate younger generations on the tragedy’s impact.
For 2025, the event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on September 11 at the northwest corner of Carnie Smith Stadium (home of Pitt State’s football team, located on Joplin Street in Pittsburg, Kansas). It is open to the public and serves as a community gathering to reflect on national service and resilience.
Heroes Hog Roast
The “Heroes Hog Roast” is hosted by J&H Cattle Co. Meat Store and US Assets Recovery, LLC, at 1316 E. Broadway Street in Joplin. The event, held under a big tent, offers a free lunch for first responders—firefighters, paramedics, and police—and veterans, featuring a hog roast meal.