The City of Biloxi is putting the finishing touches on “Katrina & Biloxi: One Year Later,” a memorial observance scheduled for the Town Green at 8 a.m. on Aug. 29, the first anniversary of Katrina.
The hour-long ceremony, which is open to the public, is the centerpiece of the city’s month of milestones to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Seating and bleachers will be set up on the Town Green, and parking is available in public parking lots throughout downtown Biloxi. (A map will be published later this week.)
Among the confirmed participants in the program, which will begin promptly at 8 a.m.: Sen. Trent Lott, Gov. Haley Barbour, Bishop Thomas J. Rodi of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi; the Rev. James Black of Faith Tabernacle of Praise; the choir of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church; Father Harold Roberts of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer; the Biloxi singing trio Ame; and singer-songwriter Brad Jerkins, who penned the opus “Heaven’s Cry” (“Goodbye, My Biloxi”) on the city’s commemorative photo album and DVD.
Also playing a role in the program will be Keesler Air Force Base, students from Biloxi and Mercy Cross high schools, and representatives of the Biloxi Police and Fire departments.
“We’re working to present a solemn and fitting observance,” said Mayor A.J. Holloway, who will also participate in the program. “This 8 a.m. ceremony on the Town Green and other events scheduled throughout the day give us time to pause and reflect on the many events and emotions we’ve been through since Aug. 29, to remember those we lost, and the new friends we’ve met from across the country and around the world.”
The Town Green ceremony will be broadcast live to a statewide audience on Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s radio network, which includes Biloxi, WMAH 90.3; Booneville, WMAE 89.5; Bude, WMAU 88.9; Greenwood, WMAO,90.9; Jackson, WMPN 91.3; Meridian, WMAW 88.1; Mississippi State, WMAB 89.9, Ole Miss, WMAV 90.3.
To see the schedule of events for Biloxi’s month of milestones, click here.
News and notes
Wards 1 and 2 meeting: Councilmembers George Lawrence and Bill Stallworth will hold a combined ward meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall.
Reminder: The Biloxi City Council has two meetings on Tuesday. To read the agendas for both meetings and available resolutions, click here.
SOTC arriving now: A 16-page report titled “The State of the City: One Year Later” is arriving in mailboxes and Post Office boxes throughout the city today. You can find one at any Biloxi public library or city facility, or view it online by clicking here.
