CONTRIBUTED BY SUSCC
OPELIKA — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit, a powerful tribute honoring the lives lost and heroism displayed on Sept. 11, 2001, will make its first-ever stop in Alabama this fall. The exhibit will arrive in Opelika on Tuesday, Sept. 10, with a full police and fire escort through the city. The public is encouraged to line the route and witness this emotional entry.
The exhibit will be housed on the campus of Southern Union State Community College through Sept. 16.
Made possible by the East Alabama Regional Training Association, the exhibit is a high-tech, 83-foot tractor-trailer that transforms into a 1,100-square-foot mobile education center, serving as a traveling memorial dedicated to all who lost their lives on 9/11, including the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to suffer from 9/11-related illnesses.
“This is more than an exhibit — it’s a national memorial on wheels,” said Opelika Fire Chief Shane Boyd. “We are honored to host this tribute and bring it to the people of Alabama, especially on such a meaningful date.”
The exhibit has traveled to nearly all 50 states and parts of Canada, educating more than one million visitors through interactive displays, steel artifacts from the Twin Towers, documentary footage and audio from first responder radio transmissions. Interactive guided tours are carried out by New York City firefighters and first responders who provide firsthand accounts of the day and its aftermath.
The following day, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, a VIP Ceremony will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., featuring remarks from local and regional dignitaries and first responders. A solemn wreath-laying ceremony will honor the victims and heroes of that fateful day. The exhibit will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 11, 13 and 14, as well as from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 and 16.
Details about the escort route, exhibit logistics, parking and volunteer opportunities will be available in the coming weeks on the City of Opelika’s website and social media platforms.
