RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Firefighters, military personnel, law enforcement officers and community members across the Black Hills are coming together this week for a large-scale remembrance event honoring the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The event, scheduled for Sept. 11 at Founders Park in Rapid City, will feature a memorial hike up M Hill, guest speakers, a possible military flyover and a charity golf tournament benefiting children recovering from burn injuries.

“This is definitely a Black Hills event,” said Randy Maxson, training chief with the Ellsworth Air Force Base Fire Department. “We invite everybody to come out and be a part of this.”

The memorial hike is set to begin at 9:11 a.m. on M Hill, with organizers encouraging attendees to arrive between 8 and 8:30 a.m. for opening ceremonies and guest speakers. Participants will gather near Founders Park before crossing the green bridge and beginning the climb.

Among the speakers will be a retired battalion chief from New Jersey who witnessed the attacks firsthand and later assisted in the response efforts. Organizers say his perspective will provide a powerful reminder of the tragedy and its lasting impact.

“We have a whole new generation now that didn’t live through it,” said Hunter Harlan, training section chief with the Rapid City Fire Department. “We just want to bring attention to it and really remind people what a huge deal it was for this country.”

Organizers also plan to display a piece of steel recovered from one of the World Trade Center towers at the summit of M Hill. The artifact is currently housed at the fire station on Ellsworth Air Force Base and will serve as a memorial centerpiece where hikers can stop and reflect.

Following the hike, a golf tournament will begin at noon at Meadowbrook Golf Course. Teams of four can register for $500, and sponsorship opportunities range from $500 to $5,000.

Funds raised from the event will help sponsor families attending a specialized burn camp through the Children’s Hospital Burn Center in Aurora, Colorado. The camp serves children recovering from severe burn injuries and allows families to attend together at no cost.

Jason Kmiecik, assistant chief of fire prevention at Ellsworth, said the organization chose the Colorado burn center because many burn victims from western South Dakota are transported there for treatment.

“We’ve seen firsthand how the whole process works,” Kmiecik said. “From the injuries to the burn camp, we know these families are getting taken care of.”

The event is expected to draw hundreds of participants, including members of the South Dakota National Guard, local law enforcement agencies, volunteer fire departments and state wildland firefighters. Organizers are also hoping for a military flyover during the ceremony.

“It’s not a celebration,” Maxson said. “It’s a remembrance. But we can still come together as a community.”