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Time capsule dedicated for 9-11 anniversary; will be opened in 10 years

By
Lori Sorenson

The 15-year anniversary of the 9-11 terror attack that killed nearly 3,000 people will be remembered locally on Sept. 11.
Diane Sherwood, president of the Remember Rally group, said an event is planned to thank and honor local first responders.
“This year Remember Rally is going to donate a Remember Rally T-shirt to every firefighter, law enforcement, and EMS personnel in Luverne as a thank you,” Sherwood said.
“We feel it is important to remember the events of 9-11, and how people are still affected. Thousands of rescue workers are sick, and over 1000 rescue workers have died from 9-11 related illnesses. Cancer in rescue workers has tripled in less than three years.”
Originally a Blue Light Beam Memorial ceremony was planned on the Terrace at the Courthouse Plaza, but cost estimates — upwards of $10,000 — came in too high.
Sherwood said Remember Rally organizers are still working on a community time capsule that will be dedicated on Sept. 11 at the Rock County Library.
The time capsule will include photos and information about 9-11 and many items telling the story of Luverne that represent 2016.
The capsule will later be moved to the History Center downtown after it opens, and the time capsule will be opened in 10 years, on the 25th anniversary of 9-11.
The motto on the time capsule will be “To learn … from the past and for the future.” It will be registered with the International Time Capsule Society, and copies of the inventory will be stored in safe places.
“It will be interesting to see what has changed in 10 years and what has stayed the same,” Sherwood said.
Items in the capsule include copies of the Star Herald, Time Magazine, local brochures that represent businesses, events, street map, the Star Herald’s “Welcome to Luverne” magazine for 2016, pictures taken around Luverne, a letter from Mayor Pat Baustian, newspapers from the day after 9-11, and a short documentary about the health issues of rescue workers, made by Sherwood.
She said she has pictures from inside Ground Zero.
“I was given access inside Ground Zero after the major cleanup was done,” she said. “They still had a trailer on the observation deck inside Ground Zero that was called the Family Viewing Room. It included pictures of those who died on 9-11, mementos, police badges, etc.”
 
Background
On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four U.S. airplanes and flew two of the passenger jets into the World Trade Center office towers in New York City.
The impacts caused the Twin Towers to catch fire and collapse. Another plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the last plane hit a portion of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Remember Rally is a nonprofit organization that was initially formed to raised funds for the 9-11 rescue workers. The group is expanding its mission by creating a specialized health facility for anyone affected by chemical or toxin exposure.
For more information or to donate to the time capsule, contact Sherwood at 283-4194.

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