Dover to dedicate 9/11 memorial on 25th anniversary

posted on 9/8/2026

The City of Dover will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a remembrance ceremony and the dedication of the city’s new permanent 9/11 memorial on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the Cocheco Mill Courtyard on Central Avenue.

The ceremony is expected to begin with a procession of police, fire and other uniformed personnel accompanied by bagpipes and color guards. The program will include a moment of silence recognizing key moments of the Sept. 11 attacks, a blessing, remarks from Mayor Dennis Shanahan and others, the formal unveiling of the memorial, a traditional bell ceremony and musical tributes. 

The memorial was designed as a permanent place for remembrance, reflection and education, honoring those killed in the attacks as well as first responders, military members, survivors and those who died in the years that followed from 9/11-related illnesses. Its granite panels represent the Pentagon, the World Trade Center towers and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and include interpretive elements recounting the events and impact of Sept. 11.

The memorial also holds particular significance for Dover. Four people with ties to the city were killed that day: Douglas Stone, a passenger on Flight 11; Kathleen and Michael Shearer, passengers on Flight 175; and David Scott Suarez, who was at the World Trade Center. 

The Cocheco Mill Courtyard was selected in part because it was the site of Dover’s first 9/11 remembrance ceremony. The memorial, approximately 27 feet long and 11 feet high, was designed by retired Assistant Fire Chief David Hanna and incorporates imagery representing police, fire and emergency medical personnel, as well as members of the military. 

The plan for the permanent memorial was first publicly announced by former Mayor Robert Carrier on Sept. 10, 2025, following the City Council’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Council Chambers.

The memorial’s design, location and construction were made possible through community donations and in-kind contributions, together with up to $60,000 in one-to-one matching funds authorized by the City Council in January.

Parking for those attending the ceremony has been reserved at 47 Chestnut St., the site of the former New Hampshire State Liquor Store. A portion of Central Avenue, from Franklin Square to Central Square and adjacent to the courtyard, will be reduced to one lane for the event, and some on-street parking in the area will be restricted.

Installation of the memorial will begin Tuesday, Sept. 8. Traffic and parking restrictions will also be in effect near the Cocheco Mill Courtyard during the installation.