DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – On Sept. 11, 2026, in Roller Field on the Devils Lake High School campus people started gathering before 8 a.m. as they joined the city’s first responders in remembering the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.
Early on, someone waiting in line to register for the event was heard referring to the weather this morning, “Today was a day much like that day 25 years ago when terrorists attacked our country, changing the USA forever.”
When it all started, there were Devils Lake and Pekin firefighters wearing heavy gear with multiple tanks of air, Devils Lake Police officers, Highway Patrol troopers, members from the ND National Guard and many more people from all walks of life and ages gathered at the football field for the opening ceremony.
The DLHS Firebirds marching band began the program with the National Anthem following the presentation of the colors by members of the VFW Honor Guard.
The announcer explained that following the bleacher and track walking, guest speaker Dwight J. Zimmerman would be giving a presentation about his experience on that fateful day. His office was just two miles from the World Trade Center buildings; he could see the towers from his office windows, an eyewitness to that devastation.
A 1971 DLHS graduate, Zimmerman now returns at least once a year to visit his mother Darlene, who still lives on Seventh Avenue NE. Zimmerman also spoke at a meeting of the Devils Lake Kiwanis Club and met with a gathering of students from Devils Lake Public Schools. As part of this morning’s presentation he was presenting a matted and framed piece of paper that fluttered down from one of the towers as it burned and fell. That artifact will be displayed at the Devils Lake Fire Department in honor of all who died 25 years ago on that day, and since.
The DLHS event was organized by Myles Schafer and the members of the DLVFD.