SHANNON—The 15th annual Blue Mass honoring first responders will be held on Sept. 11, here.

Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with the raising of a flag over Illinois Rte. 72 (Market Street) in downtown Shannon.

Fire trucks from a variety of locations will arrive later in the day to line the street. First responders from as far away as Iowa are expected to attend.

A procession will begin at 6:30 p.m. at St. Wendelin Church, 18 Linn St., and will travel around the block and to the Shannon Fire Station. Mass will begin at 7 p.m. after taps and flag honors.

Father Michael Bolger, pastor at St. Wendelin, will celebrate the Mass.

Helmets and other firefighter gear, items from the Twin Towers and Pentagon, 9-11 flags, and two heroes flags with the names of all first responders who died in the 2001 attack will be displayed.

Knights of Columbus, Boy and Girl Scouts, St. Wendelin parishioners and others from the area contribute to the success of the event.

The fire station is handicapped accessible. Chairs will be provided, but all are welcome to bring their own chairs to assure a seat.

All also are welcome to cheer the first responders and the 9-11 truck at the Sept. 4 Shannon Labor Day Parade and Sept. 9 Lena Fall Festival Parade.

Shannon is located about nine miles south of Freeport on Illinois Rt. 26, then west on Illinois Rt. 72 about five miles.