Annual 9/11 event in Eatonville Sept. 14

There is an event in Eatonville coming up. The 9/11 event has been held every year since the terrorist attacks in remembrance of the lives lost on that day.

Carrie Koschene is the new director in charge of the event, and it is the first year she is hosting it. To make sure as many people can come as possible, the event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. 

Koschene says the purpose of the event is “9/11 is a National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the selfless sacrifice of the first responders and the innocent lives that were lost.” Koschene also stated that 9/11 has two parts that she sees, and they are “the tragic loss we all know and remember and will never forget, and the second portion of 9/11 is how our nation came together in service of one another.”

Ahead of the 9/11 event, Koschene prefers that everyone register because there will be service projects to be completed. If, for some reason, there are last-minute volunteers, there will be a sign-up booth to register between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. 

Koschene is asking people to register so she can estimate how many people will show up and be able to provide enough food for everyone. Koschene is preparing for at least 200 people to attend the event. 

At Eatonville High School, where the flagpole is, there will be a remembrance ceremony and flag service from 9-9:30 a.m. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. are the service projects that are going on around town. From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., lunch is provided for the volunteers working on the service projects. 

“The service projects this year are located at the three schools in town, the visitors center, the cemetery, the police department, the post office, Mill Pond Park, the transportation office, and the Nisqually Land Trust,” Koschene said. 

There are also two other service projects going on now until Sept. 14. There are donations drives for toiletries benefiting the Eatonville Family Agency. The donation locations are around the town at various businesses. The second service project is at the Eatonville Library, where anyone can write thank you cards for the first responders in Eatonville.