Appleton to mark 12 years since 9/11 attacks

The only annual 9/11 memorial service in the province will take place Wednesday morning in a small central Newfoundland town.

As part of this year's ceremony, Appleton will dedicate a seven-metre-long piece of steel from the World Trade Centre in New York City that was donated to the community.

The event will take place at the Appleton Peace Park, on the shore of the Gander River. The park was paid for by donations from grateful airline passengers who were stranded in the community 12 years ago.

All flights in North American airspace were grounded after hijacked airplanes slammed into the Twin Towers, a field in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in Washington.

About 100 people from 14 countries ended up in Appleton. Mayor Derm Flynn said the town recently installed the twisted beam from the Twin Towers in the park.

"You get almost an eerie feeling when you look at it and realize what kind of a heavy attack or heavy disaster would twist or turn a piece of steel like that cut ... it's almost like twist and turned like a stylized 'S' or a wave on the ocean," Flynn said.

Flynn said Wednesday's service will be as much for the community volunteers who looked after the stranded passengers, as it is to mark the tragedy.

U.S. Consul General Richard Riley will also be in Appleton for the ceremony.