Never Forget: Tiffin’s 9/11 Memorial, Twenty-Three Years Later

As we reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001— the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the heroic actions of those aboard Flight 93— we encourage you to visit the Tiffin Police and Fire All Patriots Memorial and take part in a special ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of that day.

This Wednesday, September 11, at 8:46 a.m.—the exact time the first plane struck the World Trade Center— community members are invited to join local first responders, veterans, and officials for a solemn ceremony at the memorial. The event will include reflections, a wreath-laying, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps to honor those who lost their lives.

During the ceremony, the American flag donated to the memorial by Tiffin native Richard Martin will be raised and flown until sunset, serving as a poignant reminder of the resilience and unity that followed the attacks.

The All Patriots Memorial, located at Washington and Water streets near downtown Tiffin, serves as a powerful tribute. Featuring a beam from the World Trade Center, the memorial honors those affected by the attacks and commemorates Tiffin’s police and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Local police, firefighters, and community members raised $375,000 to create the memorial, which was dedicated on September 9, 2012.

As you visit the memorial, take note of its symbolic features. The 17.5-foot, three-ton beam rests at a 9.11-degree angle on a pentagon-shaped monument, representing the attack on the Pentagon. The beam is inscribed with “M-18,” the investigator’s identification number, while the words “Never Forget” and the names of Tiffin’s fallen police and firefighters are etched into the monument.

Behind the monument, a Callery pear tree symbolizes the Survivor Tree from Ground Zero, which was rescued from the rubble and replanted at the new World Trade Center site. Additionally, a post honoring Flight 93 stands 40 inches tall, representing each passenger and crew member who perished in the crash in Shanksville, PA. A nearby dirt mound symbolizes the crash site.

The memorial, which flies the United States flag, National Fallen Police flag, and National Fallen Firefighters flag, serves as a place of remembrance, reflection, and education. It is regularly used for memorial services during both local and national tragedies.

We invite you to join us on September 11 to honor those who sacrificed their lives, reflect on the events of 9/11, and ensure that we “Never Forget.”