The community is invited to gather Friday morning to honor the more than 3,000 men, women and children who lost their lives eight years ago in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The remembrance ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at Dawson County Emergency Services Station 1, at 393 Memory Lane.

Emergency Services Director Billy Thurmond, Chief Lanier Swafford and Sheriff Billy Carlisle invite the community to attend the ceremony.

“This will be a short service to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice that day. A day that changed our country forever,” said Swafford.

The ceremony will also pay tribute to the brave men and women who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan protecting our freedom, Swafford added.

The Rev. Chad Rogers, who serves as chaplain for Dawson County Public Safety, will conduct the service.

During last year’s ceremony, Rogers offered an encouragement of forgiveness.

“Everyone here remembers exactly where they were when they first heard the news,” Rogers told attendees last September. “But if we can’t leave here today with only the thought of forgiveness in our hearts, we’ve robbed ourselves of a great blessing.”

The Dawson County High School choral department will sing the national anthem at the ceremony.