As the nation approaches the solemnity of the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the City of Hilliard Division of Police is set to offer the public guided tours at First Responders Park. These tours, led by a police officer, will occur from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, as part of the community's remembrance ceremonies. According to Hilliard's official website, the event is open to all, and no registration is needed for the free tours.

As part of the observance, Hilliard police and Norwich Township Fire Department will honor the memory of those who died in the attacks by ringing a bell at the precise times the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon were hit and when Flight 93 crashed. The bells are set to ring at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., and 10:03 a.m. This act is a solemn remembrance of the events that forever changed the nation.

First Responders Park is located centrally in Old Hilliard and serves as both a memorial and a site of contemplation. It stands in tribute to the 403 First Responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11. The memorial's significance is further heightened by including seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center, which was transported to Hilliard by a dedicated delegation in 2010. The monument fuses national remembrance and local honor, solidifying the park's role in the community.

Design elements of the park include granite walls bearing the names of the fallen, a reflective pool, personalized pavers, a monument dedicated to fallen officers, and a sculpture constructed from World Trade Center steel. For those preferring a solitary experience, self-guided tours are an option, with descriptive signs about the 9/11 artifacts displayed throughout the park during the anniversary weekend. These signs provide context and history about the pieces of the World Trade Center preserved at the site.