The Harrison Township Committee discussed plans for two major events in September during its work session on Aug. 7.
The first is a 9/11 Day of Remembrance service on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Mullica Hill memorial of the tragedy on Main Street. It will acknowledge the 22nd anniversary of the attacks and the loss of 2,977 Americans.
The Mullica Hill memorial holds a piece of the World Trade Center’s North Tower wreckage, a piece of limestone from the attack on the Pentagon and a shale fragment from the site where United Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pa.
“That is always a well-attended and solemn event,” said Mayor Louis Manzo. “As always, American resiliency has transformed evil or tragic events into something positive. The fanatical actions of that day are rooted in the perversion of a religion, with its deadly tentacles becoming a global threat in the years since 2001.
“But this has energized a rising national spirit here,” he added. “Instead of a perpetual day of mourning, Sept. 11 is now known as Patriot Day, and it symbolizes the courage, strength and character of America.”
The second township event is a Wings of Life 5K run and 1K walk at Ella Harris Park on Saturday Sept. 16, at 9 a.m. It is the culmination of Suicide Awareness Week and will honor the memory of three local victims – Paul Donahue, Andrew Matter and Brian Blazek – whose families planned the event with help from the township.
“The (Wings of Life) Foundation was created in honor of the beautiful life of Paul ‘Paulie’ Michael Donahue, a 19-year-old Mullica Hill resident and Widener University student athlete,” said a family member who asked not to be named.
“Paulie was a proud member of Clearview Regional High School’s track and cross-country team, which led him to running both sports at Widener University after graduating high school in 2021,” the individual added.
“There is no better way to honor Paulie than coming together as a community and realizing his core belief, to ‘run for others, not yourself.’”
The run/walk will be followed by a community gathering and activities from 4 to 8 p.m. at American Legion Post 452. To register for both – or either – visit the Wings of Life website. The cost for both events is $45 per person, $30 for just the 5K, $25 for the walk and $30 for the gathering only.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, contact the hotline by calling or texting 988.
