Dear COBA Members;

This Friday September 11th, marks the 19th Anniversary of the Terrorist Attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville Pennsylvania.

Each year since, on the Anniversary of 9/11, the Dept conducts a short ceremony at the 0730 hours Lineup near our Memorial in front of A-Bldg where the Honor Guard lowers the Flag to half staff, a moment of silence is observed in remembrance and a Benediction is delivered from our Dept Chaplain.

Earlier this year in May, due to the pandemic, the COBA Widows and Children's Committee was not able to hold our Annual Memorial Service honoring our fallen, both in the Line of Duty and those who passed while in Active Service. Each year we invite the families of our fallen brothers and sisters as well as various dignitaries to show respect for those of our ranks who are no longer with us.

This past May, we also planned to unveil our brand new Memorial for Officers who passed while in Active Service, that now includes those who passed as a result of 9/11 related illnesses. That also did not happen due to the pandemic.

We delayed that ceremony in hopes of doing it sometime this Summer or Fall, but due to the continued issues with COVID, we decided not to burden the families, many of whom are older with some who suffer from conditions that we do not want to put at risk. We decided to forego the full Memorial Service this year and will once again celebrate the lives of our brothers and sisters in May of 2021 during the Annual Correction Officers Week.

With that said, we do not want to wait until next May to dedicate our newly installed Monument, so we will be conducting an unveiling for our Members only in conjunction with this year's 9/11 Remembrance.

This Friday, Sept 11th at the 0730 hours lineup, in conjunction with the Dept, the COBA Widows and Children's Fund will hold our 9/11 Remembrance and we will dedicate our new Memorial.

I urge all available Members both on and off duty to attend and offer their respect to those of us who sacrificed so much.

Always In Unity;

Brian Sullivan, COBA President

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