Today is the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. Monroe County isn't just where we work — it's home, and today felt like the right day to set aside listings and market talk to simply remember.
We're Beth and Tyler Martin, and one of the things we love most about raising our family here is how this part of East Tennessee shows up for each other. Today is a good example of that.
How East Tennessee Is Marking the Day
Knoxville, about 40 miles up the road from us, is hosting one of the region's larger observances today. Mayor Indya Kincannon and city leaders are holding a memorial ceremony at Delaney Plaza beginning around 8:30 a.m., with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. — the exact moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower — followed immediately by the Knoxville 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Covenant Health Park, where participants climb the equivalent of the Twin Towers' 110 stories in honor of the 343 firefighters who died responding to the attacks.
Nearby in Roane County, a bell-ringing ceremony is taking place at the Andrew J. Benson 9/11 Memorial beside the public boat ramp at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant, and this evening Knoxville residents can take part in 9/11 Tributes & Tunes at World's Fair Park, with proceeds benefiting the Knoxville Public Safety Foundation.
Why This Day Carries Extra Weight
Congress designated September 11 as Patriot Day back in 2001, and in 2009 it also became the National Day of Service and Remembrance — one of only two federally recognized days of service in the entire country, alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The purpose behind that second title is meaningful: it asks all of us to turn a day of grief into a day of doing good for our neighbors.
Our Hope for Today
We believe real estate is about more than transactions — it's about the community that surrounds the home. Today is a reminder of what that community owes to the people who ran toward danger 25 years ago, and to the families who are still carrying that loss.
If you're able, take a moment today. Thank a first responder, fly your flag, or simply pause and remember the nearly 3,000 people we lost. Rooted in community, focused on each other — that's what today is about.
— Beth & Tyler
