FAIRMONT — On Sept. 11, 2001, the lives of Americans were flipped upside down as we collectively experienced the attack on our country. As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 takes place on Saturday, a 9/11 Remembrance Processional Parade will be held in Fairmont.

Martin County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon chair person, Tam Plumhoff, said she is working with Rev. Cory Germain, a pastor at First Congregational UCC as well as a chaplain with the Minnesota National Guard, to plan the event.

“The remembrance processional parade will be somber. It will be silent, no floats, no candy. It’s a different type of parade,” said Plumhoff.

She explained what led them to plan the event.

“After the recent suicide bombing on Aug. 26, which killed the 13 service members, I felt it upon my heart that I wanted to do something but I didn’t know what,” Plumhoff said.

She said she knows several businesses are offering free food, which is great, but she wanted to do something that the community could pull together and remember. Holding the event on the anniversary of 9/11 was no coincidence.

“It was very purposeful with the 20-year anniversary and the war on terror and the recent suicide bombing, we needed to have it on September 11th,” Plumhoff said.

Plumhoff said the parade lineup will gather at Fairmont National Guard Armory’s flag pole at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

“We’ll say the Pledge of Allegiance and at 9:11 a.m., that is when the parade begins,” Plumhoff said.

It will begin with the the American Legion and VFW honor guard. There will be one vehicle to represent each entity that was a part of 9/11, the first responders and those currently active in the war on terror.

The processional parade will go down Lake Avenue – 4th Street – North North Avenue – Winnebago Avenue and end at the Martin County Veterans Memorial flag pole around 9:30 a.m. for the Lord’s prayer and National Anthem.

Plumhoff said there won’t be any singing or guest speakers as she and Germain believe it should be a silent event meant to honor those who died and those who served the county’s military.

“All are welcome to attend. Our vision is to be reverent and honorable as we reflect the 9/11 anniversary,” Plumhoff said.