By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — Beth McGinn and Tina Washington agree that this will be no small task.

It might, in fact, go down as one the largest community events undertaken by Auxiliary Unit 28, part of American Legion Post 28 in Millsboro.

Sept. 11, 2021, marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, and Unit 28 has an ambitious project to mark the solemn occasion.

The unit is planning a nighttime ceremony, including nearly 3,000 tealight candles illuminated in bags — each one bearing the name of someone who perished in the attacks 20 years ago.

The organizers are seeking donations from the public at $1 per bag, and sponsors may choose a particular name or names.

“I have all of the names of the people who died, their ages. I have their states, and I’m working on their occupations,” said Ms. McGinn, Unit 28’s historian. “So when people get a name — that we’re going to put on the bag — they will know who their person is.”

The aim of this 20-year remembrance is to be personal.

“I don’t want these people to be forgotten,” Ms. McGinn added. “It’s 20 years. I am working on this list. And I’m going to tell you, there are some very moving stories. One guy was a window washer. That sticks with me. I can’t imagine washing the windows and seeing that plane come behind you. There were babies, 2 and 3 years old. We want it to be personal.”

The recognized toll from the attacks is 2,977 fatalities and more than 25,000 injuries.

Unit 28’s kickoff to solicit bag sponsors and donations to support this event is Memorial Day.

“We will direct donors to the 9/11 website to research names,” said Ms. Washington, Unit 28’s public relations chairwoman. Supporters can sponsor as many bags as they wish.

“We are hoping that we will get some organizations to purchase a quantity of bags,” Ms. Washington said. “We have developed a letter which we will send them thanking them and giving them names of those we assign to their donation or names requested.”

The auxiliary is working on a Venmo account to accept payments, in addition to taking checks and cash.

To volunteer or donate, or for more information, contact Ms. McGinn at 381-3897 or Ms. Washington at 329-9090.

Community support also will be needed the day of the Sept. 11 ceremony, in advance of the 7 p.m. event. Organizers hope to enlist in-person volunteers to help place sand and tealights in bags, turn the lights on and help volunteers place the bags in a field by the pavilion several hours prior.

“We’re really putting this out, wanting it to be a community event, and we think if we do it that way, we get the help that we need. The big part is setting (the bags) out,” said Ms. Washington.

Ms. McGinn added, “I want to involve everybody — the Boy Scouts, the ROTC. … We’re going to need these people to put these bags out there. I’m hoping that the fire departments and the police will, too, because there was a lot of those people (who died).”

Auxiliary Unit 28 President Linda Shelly has agreed to allow proceeds from the unit’s yard sales be given to help offset the estimated $2,500 cost of bags and tealights.

Donations are also welcome, including sand needed to weigh down the bags.
While presently set for 7 p.m., the candlelight program may start a little earlier.

The ceremony also will include several speakers and the presentation of a 9/11 Freedom Flag. The unit is hoping to have a Sept. 11 survivor or family member from the area on hand, as well.

“We want to build this, as the community comes out for the 20th anniversary of 9/11,” said Ms. Washington. “It’s a lot of stuff, but we are hoping we will get it done. One way or the other, we’re going to have them all out there.”