Stokes Ministry will be holding a Sept. 11 service at 6 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Tamaqua.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity to have our community come together again,” said Pastor Sharon Stokes.

“So many things have changed and happened in the course of 20 years because of 9/11. We held a service two years ago, but we couldn’t do it last year because of the pandemic. I said it was a time to remember and this year is really ‘never forget.’ We can’t forget - but there are things we need to forget - the hate that came with that. But let’s not forget the people who lost their lives and the families that lost loved ones.”

Stokes said state Rep. Jerry Knowles, state Sen. David Argall and county Commissioner Gary Hess will be speaking at the service.

“It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years since this horrific event changed our country,” Knowles said. “People who are old enough remember where they were on the day when Pearl Harbor was bombed and John F. Kennedy was assassinated. This was another life-altering event we will never forget. On Sept. 11, 2001, all of our lives changed.”

After the guest speakers, local singers will perform the national anthem and “Amazing Grace.” A flag ceremony and three-round volley will follow.

There will be free refreshments available.

“It feels very surreal to know that we lived through that,” Stokes said. “Growing up, my grandparents talked about the Depression. You don’t really get what they’re saying until you lived through some type of tragic event.”