Marquette remembers 9/11
Smoke rises from the burning twin towers of the World Trade Center after hijacked planes crashed into the towers on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York. (AP photo)
“Find a TV” is a play written by Northern Michigan University professors Dr. Anna Zimmer and Jimmy Ludwig, inspired by interviews with U.P. residents about their memories of 9/11. (Image courtesy of NMU)
Smoke rises from the burning twin towers of the World Trade Center after hijacked planes crashed into the towers on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York. (AP photo)
“Find a TV” is a play written by Northern Michigan University professors Dr. Anna Zimmer and Jimmy Ludwig, inspired by interviews with U.P. residents about their memories of 9/11. (Image courtesy of NMU)
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MARQUETTE -- Various people and organizations around Marquette County are planning to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks today.
At Northern Michigan University, bells will toll at 8:46 a.m. followed by a moment of silence, in observance of the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center's Tower 1.
NMU will also be commemorating the loss of 1985 NMU alumnus Lt. Col. Kip Taylor, who died when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. At 9:30 a.m. at Veteran Rock on the Northern Center Lawn, Northern's Department of Military Science and ROTC program will present the colors and a 9/11 memorial flag in Taylor's honor, and Major Jeffert Woleben will speak in memory of the fallen NMU ROTC graduate.
Next week, NMU will host three performances of "Find a TV," a theatre production retelling the reaction on the NMU Campus and in the Upper Peninsula on the day of 9/11. The title of the play references a message written on a dry erase board of an empty NMU classroom on the morning of Sept. 11: "Class is cancelled. Find a TV."
The play was written by NMU professors Dr. Anna Zimmer and Jimmy Ludwig inspired by interviews conducted by Zimmer and Honors Program students, who interviewed dozens of U.P. residents about their memory of 9/11. That project is ongoing. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 and at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. Tickets to the play are available at https://www.givecampus.com/schools/NorthernMichiganUniversity/events/find-a-tv.
Andrew “Bear” Tyler, 46, of Ishpeming, recalled the day's events, saying "I woke up on Sept. 11, 2001, as I normally did, to my employer WIAN-AM. I heard that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I groggily reached my foot out to 'find a TV' at the end of my bed and turned it on. I was watching for about three minutes when the second plane hit, and I flew out of bed to a torrent of profanity and quickly got dressed. I went downstairs and talked with whoever in my family was around, trying to process what was happening, and decided that I had better get down to Northern Star Broadcasting where I worked."
Tyler said when he arrived, he clocked in and was immediately sent out to the airport.
"I got there in record time, as law enforcement was already on the scene, and saw the grounded planes. I reported back to the station, then waited to get inside the terminal. Once they let reporters in, I got a couple of quick statements and headed out to cover other aspects of the story. Most of the stranded travelers just wanted to find some food and get some rest, and I didn't want to bother them too much."
From there, Tyler headed to the local blood bank.
"When I got there, the line was backed up down the block. I gave blood and interviewed administrators while I donated. Obviously, the scene was chaotic, but the blood center workers were ecstatic because there is pretty much always a shortage of blood in the grand scheme of things.”
After the donation, Tyler returned to his place of employment.
"They told me I should call it a day, knowing my crew and I were scheduled to man the WUPX airwaves that night for our usual 'Thrash n' Trash' Tuesday. On my way back, I remember seeing massive lines wrapping around the gas stations. One of the first things I did on the air was break the rules with an urgent call to action, telling listeners to get out of line and not panic about fuel because we weren’t running the risk of a shortage (which was the official message from the powers that be at the time).
"That night, members of the local heavy metal radio crew just hung out, watched the coverage from New York City, commented on it a bit, and played a mix of music that captured our anger and sadness in the way only the art you love can do."
Other local events will feature NMU's Turning Point USA club, who will continue their tradition of an event held at Sugarloaf. The amount of stairs climbed by first responders on 9/11 is approximately equal to four times up Sugarloaf, so event attendees can climb Sugarloaf and receive commemorative bracelets for each time up the mountain. Flags will also be available to be placed at the peak.
The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans is having a pig roast for members and their loved ones tomorrow afternoon, with honored guests from the West Branch Fire Department and music from 41 West.
In Sault Ste Marie, the International Bridge will be closed briefly at 8:46 for the annual 9/11 commemoration and moment of silence. Taps will be played while the flag is raised and a moment of silence will follow. The closure is expected to last 30 minutes or less.