PRESS RELEASE
Contact Courtney Guertin
cguertin@battleshipcove.org
(508) 678-1100

Remembering September 11, 2001

FALL RIVER: In memoriam of the two-year anniversary of the nation's most deadly attack, the U.S.S. Massachusetts Memorial Committee, Inc. will host a Rite of Reflection ceremony at Battleship Cove on Thursday, September 11th, 2003.

Designated as the future site of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' official memorial to its victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Battleship Cove serves as the Bay State's official memorial to those Commonwealth citizens who lost their lives during WWII and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars.

Ceremonial Events include:

8:00 AM
Remarks
Captain Ernst M. Cummings, USCG (Ret.)
Executive Director, Battleship Cove

State Representative Robert Correia
Bristol County, 7th District

Honorable Edward M. Lambert, Jr.
Mayor, Fall River

8:46 AM
21 Gun Salute fired from the U.S.S. Massachusetts by Police, Fire, and Paramedic personnel.

Afterwards, Battleship Cove will unveil the second theme in a new art exhibit, "The Art of War: Powers of Persuasion." Featuring authentic propaganda posters from World War I and World War II that were designed to "Demonize the Enemy," the exhibit also displays various art and novelty products ranging from the War on Communism to today's War on Terrorism. Special tours will be given at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The first 100 people to sign up for the tour on September 11th will receive an American flag lapel pin.

Battleship Cove is a maritime heritage museum comprising five National Historic Landmarks within the world's largest and most diverse collection of historic naval ships. In July 2002, Governor Jane Swift approved a bill to erect a memorial for the ninety-one Massachusetts victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Act, House, No. 4974, was proposed by Representative Robert Correia of Fall River and endorsed by House and Senate leadership. The Act provides that the U.S.S. Massachusetts Memorial Committee, Inc. shall establish an official state memorial at Battleship Cove to honor the Commonwealth victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on America. Battleship Cove has begun laying the groundwork for an austere memorial monument. Spearheaded by architect Anthony Waring, the museum anticipates a September 2004 unveiling.

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