Portland officials, including the city fire and police departments, will hold a ceremony Monday morning to honor those killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, including seven Mainers.

The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Fort Allen Park on the Eastern Promenade.

Fire Chief Keith Gautreau and police Chief Mark Dubuois will offer brief remarks and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the city’s 9/11 Memorial. The memorial, which was dedicated in 2003, includes the names of the seven Maine residents killed when terrorists flew airliners into the Pentagon and World Trade Center, and crashed another in Pennsylvania after passengers on Flight 93 fought their hijackers.

The wreath-laying will be followed by a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. to mark the moment that morning when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

In New York City, 343 firefighters, 23 police officers and 37 Port Authority officers died when planes struck both trade center towers. Gautreau said in last year’s ceremony that “they ran toward the problem, not away, because it’s their duty.”

Nationally, firefighters have on past 9/11 anniversaries climbed stairs to pay homage to the New York City firefighters who rushed into the burning towers and perished. Portland firefighters took part in 2015 to honor the lives lost and raise money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Firefighters put on their full gear, including oxygen tanks, and climbed the stairs of 2 Monument Square 10 times, a total of 110 flights, the number of floors in each tower at the World Trade Center.

Mainers killed that day included Navy Cmdr. Robert Allan Schlegel, 38, of Gray, who was killed when American Flight 77 struck the Pentagon where he worked.

Also killed were retirees Robert and Jackie Norton of Lubec, who were flying to their son’s wedding in Santa Barbara, California; and James Roux, 42, a Portland attorney, who was also bound for Los Angeles in United Flight 175 out of Boston, which was hijacked and flown into the south tower at the World Trade Center.

Stephen Ward, 33, of Gorham, was working on the 100th floor of the trade center, just above where one of the airliners hit.

The official death toll from the attacks that day was 2,996.

Gov. Janet Mills said Sunday in a statement that flags will be lowered to half-staff statewide on Monday to honor victims and survivors of 9/11, in accordance with a directive from President Biden.

“We pause to remember and honor the victims and survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including those from Maine, whose lives were cut short on that awful day,” Mills said. “We also pay tribute to the service of the first responders whose actions saved the lives of many, and we remember, with great reverence and respect, those heroes who gave their lives to save others.”

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office will also hold a 9/11 ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Cumberland County Jail at 50 County Way in Portland.

It is important that 9/11 not be forgotten, Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said Sunday in a statement.

Many of the first responders who helped search for victims are still losing their lives 22 years later because of illnesses stemming from the toxic environment at the two attack sites, Joyce said. “We must not forget.”

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