Sikeston plans wall to memorialize victims of Sept. 11

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Residents in Sikeston and the surrounding area have a chance to honor the victims of Sept. 11 through a memorial program and tribute in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Nunnelee Funeral Chapel has joined other funeral homes to provide a 10-foot tall, 24-foot wide Memorial Wall that will bear the names of all 3,044 known victims who died at the Pentagon, World Trade Center and on Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

"Those of us in the Keystone group of funeral homes wanted to have some sort of memorial service and we all felt this would be perfect for the 9-11 anniversary," said Tom Nunnelee.

Nunnelee said the community is assisting the funeral homes in constructing the wall and moving it throughout Sikeston over a 10-day period.

"The memorial to the victims and their loved ones of the attack on America gives our community a way to honor and contribute to a worthwhile cause in New York and do something to aid the fire and police officers locally," he said.

Organizers are asking for organizations, groups, businesses, companies and individuals to support the endeavor by making donations, helping to staff the wall and assisting with a balloon launch symbolizing each of the known victims. The balloons will be released every hour for 10 hours a day in front of the Memorial Wall until all 3,044 have been released.

Half the donations will be sent to the New York University Child Study Center, which has established a foundation and is working with children directly impacted by the attacks. These include children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, those displaced when their homes or schools were damaged or destroyed and those who lost parents, relatives or loved ones in the attack.

The other half of the donations will assist the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's police and fire divisions.

The Memorial Wall will first be displayed on the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel property for several days beginning Sept. 3. The wall will later be moved to other locations in the community and at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Field House, a public remembrance service will be held.

For more information, call (573) 471-2242.