Annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony – 2026 (25th Anniversary)

August 18, 2026August 29, 2026 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

On Friday, September 11, at 7 o’clock p.m., the annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the six residents of Great Falls and all others who lost their lives or suffered in the attacks and the aftermath.

The keynote speaker will be

Vice Admiral Michael Franken, United States Navy, Retired

Admiral Franken’s military career included commanding the USS Winston S. Churchill, leading Squadron 28 and serving as the first director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He also held senior roles such as Deputy Commander of U.S. Africa Command and Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of the Navy. After serving for nearly 40 years, Admiral Franken retired in 2017.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Grange. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Updates to the schedule will be posted at www.gffreedom.org

Social media:

2026 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY MOVED INDOORS TO GRANGE

May 24, 2026May 24, 2026 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

UPDATED LOCATION FOR 2026 MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

Given the continuing rain, our 2026 Memorial Day Ceremony will be moved indoors to the Grange. The Grange is located next door to the public library and the Freedom Memorial Plaza. We thank the Great Falls Grange Foundation for making the space available and look forward to seeing you there. Parking will still be available in the public library lot, and limited parking may be available in the “Old School” lot by the Grange.

This year’s ceremony, which features an America 250 theme, will begin at 11:00 a.m. on May 25, as originally scheduled.

The featured speaker is Jon “Mike” Watson, Commander, USCG (Ret.)
Mr. Watson currently is the Registrar of the Sgt. Major John Champe Chapter, Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Watson will highlight the history surrounding the Battles of Concord and Lexington and the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” We will recognize the eight militiamen who sacrificed their lives at Concord in 1775 and honor all those who gave the last full measure of devotion to our country from its founding until today.

Social media:

May 25, 2026: Memorial Day at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial – A Special America 250 Ceremony to Honor the Courage of Our Founding Patriots

May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

You are invited to our annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial on Monday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m.

This year’s program will feature an America 250 theme. We will highlight the history surrounding the Shot Heard ‘Round the World, recognize the eight militiamen who sacrificed their lives at Concord in 1775, and honor all those who gave the last full measure of devotion to our country from its founding until today.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Grange. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Social media:

2025 Veterans Day Ceremony Moved Indoors to Grange

November 9, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

UPDATED LOCATION FOR 2025 VETERANS DAY CEREMONY:

Given the anticipated cold temperatures on Tuesday, November 11, the 2025 Great Falls Freedom Memorial Veterans Day Ceremony will be moved indoors to the Grange. The Grange is located next door to the public library and the Freedom Memorial Plaza.

Parking will still be available in the public library lot, and Scouts will be on hand to help direct participants to the Grange. Limited parking may be available in the “Old School” lot by the Grange.

The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m., as originally scheduled. We thank the Great Falls Grange Foundation for making the space available and look forward to seeing you there.

Social media:

Veterans Day Ceremony 2025

October 17, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

October 15, 2025 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. The ceremony will honor all who have served our country in the Armed Forces.

The historic tradition of holding Veterans Day ceremonies at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” commemorates the armistice which took effect at that same time in 1918 to end World War I.

Our speaker will be GFFM Board President Andy Wilson, who was interviewed by the American Veterans Center regarding his Army Ranger combat experiences during the Vietnam War.

Social media:

Annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony – 2025

August 19, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

On Thursday, September 11, at 7 o’clock p.m., the annual 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the six residents of Great Falls and all others who lost their lives or suffered in the attacks and the aftermath. The keynote speaker will be Marc H. Sasseville, Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (Retired). On the morning of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Lt. Gen. Sasseville was one of four pilots given the mission of finding United Airlines Flight 93 and destroying it, even if it meant ramming the aircraft.

Lt. Gen. Sasseville graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs. Following pilot training, he served in various operational units in United States Air Forces Europe, Tactical Air Command/Air Combat Command, and Pacific Air Forces. After his last active-duty assignment, he joined the District of Columbia Air National Guard. He has held squadron, group, wing and numbered air force command. He also served as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché to Turkey. He was the Commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and First Air Force, Air and Space Forces Northern, headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Lt. Gen. Sasseville has received many awards and decorations, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters.

This is the official portrait of Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville.

Updates to the schedule will be posted at www.gffreedom.org

Social media:

Highlights of Memorial Day Ceremony, 2025

July 4, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

Social media:

Memorial Day Ceremony – May 26, 2025

May 19, 2025May 19, 2025 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

On Monday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country.

Our keynote speaker this year is Bob Wallace, who served in Vietnam with a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit (called LERP). After Vietnam, Mr. Wallace spent 33 years with the CIA.

The ceremony will also feature a local Scout Color Guard and patriotic songs performed by professional singers.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to either the library meeting room or the Grange. Limited seating will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Social media:

Veterans Day Ceremony – Monday, November 11, 2024

November 2, 2024November 2, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

November 1, 2024 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Monday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial. The ceremony will honor all who have served our country in the Armed Forces.

The keynote speaker is author and Detective Taylor Cleveland, who served as the Senior Line Company Corpsman for India Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. He was deployed to the Al-Anbar province of Iraq in 2005 where he was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device, and the Purple Heart. His book, “Mother’s Day: The Courage & Sacrifice of the 3rd Battalion 25th,” was published in 2023, and he is in his 27th year as a Detective for the Conneaut, Ohio, Police Department.

************************************************

Free Flags American photo and picture

Social media:

Gazette Leader Coverage of 9/11/24 Remembrance Ceremony

September 22, 2024September 22, 2024 Cynthia StrassbergLeave a comment

9/11 ceremony notes impact on Great Falls, resilience of residents

GazetteLeader Sep 13, 2024 11:31 AM

Six residents from community died in 2001 terrorist attacks

Photo 1 / 2 A candlelight vigil was part of the 2024 ceremony in Great Falls marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist events. Great Falls Freedom Memorial

Photo 2 / 2 Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Lou Crenshaw delivered remarks at the 2024 Great Falls ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Great Falls Freedom Memorial

More than 160 members of the Great Falls community and surrounding areas turned out for the annual commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The event and vigil was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial.

“I was one of the lucky ones,” said retired U.S. Navy Adm. Lou Crenshaw, who was in the Pentagon when it was struck by a hijacked airliner.

Others, he noted, were not so fortunate, including six Great Falls residents who were in the hijacked plans that day: Ann Judge, Lisa Rains, George and Diane Simmons, Barbara Olson and U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Richard Gabriel.

“They are all heroes in my book,” Crenshaw said, urging attendees to be prepared for challenges and “develop a mindset to help others by doing things that put other people first.”

“When you see or are involved in the next crisis, or emergency, or difficult situation – turn toward it,” he said. “Because you have discarded the ‘me-too’ attitude, you have the tools to deal with the problem and you remember the footprints left in the sand by Ann, Lisa, George, Diane, Barbara and Richard. That’s the most fitting way to honor them.”

Among those participating in the event were members of Boy Scout Troop 55 (color guard), Erin Gantt (leading the National Anthem) and Jonathan Torres (presenting Taps). Great Falls Freedom Memorial board president Andy Wilson welcomed dignitaries.

https://www.gazetteleader.com/fairfax/news/911-ceremony-notes-impact-on-great-falls-resilience-of-residents-9515987

Social media: