Floating Sky Lanterns to Be Released at Metro Beach on 9/11

To honor the victims of Sept. 11 and thank Michigan’s military and first-response personnel, Huron-Clinton Metroparks and CBS Radio Detroit have teamed up to host tribute events this Sunday at Metro Beach and Lake Erie parks.

Admission to the parks will be free starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The “Michigan Remembers” event festivities will run from 5 p.m. to about 8:15 p.m., and will include a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flyover at 6 p.m. At Metro Beach Metropark near Mt. Clemens, there will be face painting, a bounce house and live music, among other attractions.

Military personnel, police and firefighters from Harrison Township and Macomb County and staff from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Naval District Detroit Recruiting will be on hand to meet with attendees.

At 8:15 p.m., there will be a recognition ceremony featuring honor and color guards as well as a 21-gun salute.

At 9:11 p.m., the tribute will conclude with the lighting and release of floating sky lanterns over the lakes. The sky lanterns can be purchased on-site on Sunday or picked up prior to the event at any Metro Detroit Chevy dealer for a donation of $5 to the Salvation Army. The sky lanterns are biodegradable.

Additionally, various military vehicles are scheduled for display, including Humvees, a Marine transport truck, an AS-350 helicopter and a Coast Guard Selfridge Patrol boat. Units recently returned from Afghanistan are scheduled to appear as well, according to the parks.

Leading up to the ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday, visitors at Metro Beach and other metroparks can write personal notes on Sept. 11 tribute banners. The banners will be part of the “Michigan Remembers” tribute events on Sunday, after which one banner will be sent to troops overseas. The others will be given to Michigan military, police and firefighters.

For a complete schedule of events, visit metroparks.com.