Annual March to the Memorial starts at 9:11 a.m. on 9/11

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The annual 9/11 March to the Memorial begins at 9:11 a.m. on Sunday at the Martin's on Ireland Road. The annual march honors the lives lost in the terror attacks in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.

The 21-mile walk begins at Martin's, 926 Ireland Road, at 9:11 a.m. and ends at the 9/11 memorial at St. Patrick's County Park around 6:45 p.m.

You can join the march at any point on the route or walk the full 21-mile route. It will take periodic rest stops at local fire stations and lunch will be provided at Coldwell Banker, which is along the route.

The organizer, who was in New York City on the day of the attacks, doesn't want the victims to ever be forgotten.

"We can't let the memory of what happened vanish and the young people need to see this so they can think 'ok this is an important day in our history.' And I committed to doing this every year until my body says no and hopefully that will be many, many years from now," organizer Bob Lyons said.

The event is free to participate, but you are asked to register ahead of time.

Transportation will not be provided by organizers.

Click here for more information, the route, and to register.

The 21-mile march is a “21-gun salute” to the heroes and victims on the day Americans will never forget. It brings the community together with stops along the way at various fire stations where the marchers can take a break and meet first responders.

Lyons has participated in 21-mile marches every September 11th since 2009. It began in his hometown of St. Louis with a march to the Arch. He later moved to Des Moines and brought the march with him. Once he moved to south bend in 2018, he kept marching on.

Anyone can join the free march, just bring an American flag a symbol which reminds Lyons of the unity he felt following the attacks.

“My vision for this area here is to get 100 people walking in about five years, so you can see 100 flags walking down, it gives you the chills, it really does,” said Lyons. “And it kind of represents the unity that we had on 9/12 as well, where everyone comes from all backgrounds and we’re all one family together.”