MUSCATINE, Iowa – Muscatine first responders and community members will once again gather to honor the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during Patriot Day and the National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the tragic events that forever changed the nation.
The Muscatine Fire Department, Muscatine Police Department, and the City of Muscatine invite the public to attend a Moment of Silence ceremony at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at the Muscatine Firefighters Memorial, located at East 5th and Cedar streets. The brief ceremony, held rain or shine, will pay tribute to the 2,977 lives lost, including 343 firefighters and 72 police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others.
“On this day, we remember the strength of our brother and sister responders, their families, and our nation as a whole,” said Fire Chief Mike Hartman. “Great loss reveals character, and on September 11 our nation stood tall. As we grieve, we also take solace in the courage and unity shown that day. Stay safe, and stay strong.”
Following the morning ceremony, Muscatine First Responders will lead the Memorial Stair Climb beginning at 8:52 a.m. at the Muscatine High School football stadium bleachers — the same time the first FDNY apparatus arrived at the Twin Towers.
The stair climb replicates the 110 stories of the World Trade Center, totaling 2,200 steps, and honors the determination of the firefighters who climbed toward danger in their effort to save others. Bells will sound throughout the event to mark the timeline of the 9/11 attacks:
- 8:46 a.m. – North Tower struck
- 8:52 a.m. – First FDNY units arrive; stair climb begins
- 9:03 a.m. – South Tower struck
- 9:37 a.m. – Pentagon struck
- 10:03 a.m. – Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania
Each climber will ring a bell at the completion of their climb while calling out the name of a fallen hero they are honoring. The ceremony will conclude with the bell struck five times, the traditional firefighter’s code signifying “end of duty.”
“We invite anyone who wishes to join us in the stair climb to participate,” said Captain Andrew McSorley. “This is an opportunity for the community, surrounding departments, and individuals to pay tribute to those who gave everything that day.”
Those interested in participating are asked to contact Captain McSorley at 563-263-9233 ext. 622 or by email at amcsorley@muscatineiowa.gov (preferred). Additional contacts include Stephanie Oien (soien@muscatineiowa.gov) and Melissa Rinnert (mrinnert@muscatineiowa.gov).
In addition to the Patriot Day observances, the City of Muscatine will host two special local memorial events:
- Sunday, September 14, 7:00 a.m. – Memorial service for Mike Kruse, the only Muscatine firefighter to die in the line of duty, at the Firefighters Memorial.
- Monday, September 15, 12:00 p.m. – Ribbon cutting and dedication of Kruse Memorial Park, a pocket park at 6th and Orange streets, on the site of the 1990 fire where Kruse lost his life. The “pocket” park is part of the Ignite Vitality: Mulberry Project.
“This is a meaningful way to honor those lost on 9/11 and to remember our own fallen firefighter here in Muscatine,” McSorley added. “We encourage the public to attend, whether to climb, to observe, or simply to show support.”
The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GMCCI) will be hosting a special event on the riverfront celebrating the Navy, Army and Marines 250th Anniversary on the evening of September 11. The historic LST (Landing Ship Tank) 325, the only operational World War II LST still afloat on U.S. waters, will be docked in Muscatine for tours Sept. 9-15, and serve as the platform for a special ceremony at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11. The ceremony will be followed by a concert in the parking lot at the Iowa Avenue entrance to Riverfront Park.