WHO:
Keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Richard C. Harding, USAF (Ret.); local first responders; Westminster College students, faculty and staff; City of Fulton and Callaway County officials; and the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society, event co-sponsor
WHAT:
Westminster College and the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a morning of remembrance honoring first responders and the 2,977 lives lost.
The Patriot Day Commemoration will feature a first responder reception and historic display, solemn processional, 21-gun salute, “Taps” and the placement of 2,977 individually labeled American flags on the Hill at Westminster’s historic Columns.
As the flags are placed, the bells of America’s National Churchill Museum will toll in remembrance of those killed on 9/11.
Harding, who was serving as U.S. Strategic Command’s staff judge advocate on Sept. 11, 2001, will discuss his experience that day beginning with his face-to-face encounter with President George W. Bush as well as the legal and national security decisions surrounding the nation’s response.
See location information and schedule below.
WHEN:
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Events begin at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Westminster College
Fulton, Missouri
Events begin at Latshaw Plaza, proceed to Champ Auditorium and conclude on the Hill at the Columns, next to Davidson Leadership Plaza. Parking is available on Westminster Avenue and behind Champ Auditorium. Please see the map below.
WHY:
Sept. 11, 2026, marks 25 years since the attacks. Westminster’s commemoration will bring together the campus, first responders, veterans and community members to honor those who served and remember those who tragically lost their lives.
VISUALS / MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
- First responder reception and historic 9/11 display beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Latshaw Plaza
- Solemn processional led by the Skulls of Seven, color guard and platform party
- 9/11 eyewitness perspective from Harding and Q&A with retired Callaway County first responder Mark Maupin, who deployed to New York following the attacks
- 21-gun salute, “Taps” and moment of silence conducted with Callaway Post 2657, Veterans of Foreign Wars
- 2,977 Flags of Remembrance placed across the Hill, each bearing the name of a person killed in the attacks
- Solemn bell tolling from ANCM during the flag placement
- Interviews available upon request.
SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. | Latshaw Plaza
First responder reception and historic display
9 a.m. | Champ Auditorium
Processional, National Anthem, remembrance video, Harding presentation and Q&A with Maupin
9:55 a.m. | The Hill at the Columns
First responder receiving line, 21-gun salute, “Taps,” moment of silence, benediction and placement of 2,977 Flags of Remembrance accompanied by bell tolling
Media are encouraged to attend the full commemoration. For photography and broadcast coverage, events beginning at approximately 9:55 a.m. on the Hill at the Columns will offer particularly strong visuals, including first responders, the 21-gun salute, “Taps” and placement of 2,977 individually named American flags.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College is ranked prestigiously by The Princeton Review as one of 151 “Best Colleges in the Midwest” for 2026 and is among a select group of full-participation institutions nationwide in the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition, as recognized by the Higher Learning Commission. New graduates experience a more than 90% placement rate within six months of graduation, while Westminster alumni are in the top 16% nationwide for graduate earnings. The only National Liberal Arts college in Missouri, Westminster has long been recognized for its focus on educating and inspiring students to make an impact on the world around them. Find out more about Westminster College by visiting our website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or Sarah.Backer@WCMO.edu.
Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.
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