A special memorial honoring those who died thirteen years ago during the September 11, 2001, attacks arrived in Grand Rapids Tuesday evening.

A group of Patriot Riders escorted the mobile “9/11 Never Forget” exhibit to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The exhibit will be a part of the annual remembrance ceremonies scheduled for Thursday at the museum.

 

A representative from the traveling memorial told WZZM-13:

Our country is the greatest in the world. To keep it that way we have to protect each other and help each other. And that's why we are here right now

 

In describing the exhibit, he said:

It's all equipment and stories that actually happened on the day of 9/11. It's like a a miniature museum depicting the events that unfolded that day.

The memorial includes actual artifacts from the fallen World Trade Center towers, including chunks of glass, steel, marble, a destroyed street sign, and parts of fire equipment that were used. The exhibit provides interactive education, allowing visitors to travel through the mobile memorial, taking in news and video footage, photographs, and first hand accounts from those who experienced the attacks. The free tours can be self-guided or.lead by New York Fire Department battalion chiefs.

The traveling exhibit is open Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, The Community Day of Remembrance will be led by the President Ford Council, Boy Scouts of America with a day-long "Scout Salute" at the museum on Sept. 11 to pay respect to all those who died during the terrorist attacks. The ceremony has been held annually from sunrise to sunset since September 11, 2002 at the Ford Museum and has been supported by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation each year.

More From 97.9 WGRD