The Vaughn-Blake Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8480 and its ladies auxiliary will be holding a 9/11 Memorial Program today at 6 p.m. at 610 N. Third St., and everyone in the community is invited to join the event.

As today marks the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks on the United States in which nearly 3,000 people died, the VFW’s program will include speakers from the local police and fire departments, sharing their memories of Sept. 11, 2001, and how they reacted to the news of what had happened.

“It’s a situation where we can show our gratitude to the first responders,” said VFW Post 8480 Commander Harry Ray.

According to Ray, a local minister will also deliver a spiritual message. And although some type of entertainment will be provided and food and drinks will be served, the memorial program will have the serious tone it deserves, said Ray.

“It’s a very somber occasion,” he said. “It’s still fresh on a lot of people’s minds and in their hearts.”

Ray said the terror attacks of 2011 affected a lot of people, and it was important to him and his post that they would not be forgotten.

“There are people still suffering as a result of what happened,” he said, adding that a similar attack could happen again. “We don’t want anyone to forget that.”