This month marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans. Tiffin native and retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Scheid is spearheading a community Patriot Day Salute celebration that will honor all first responders. 
Scheid said there are two main reasons he initiated the Patriot Day Salute. When Scheid retired and returned to Seneca County, he visited all of the memorials in the area and asked where the Vietnam one was. When he discovered that Tiffin did not have a Vietnam memorial, he thought that was not right, so he talked to Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz and was granted the approval of a memorial on Frost Parkway if the funding was raised. 
“I thought the time would be right for a celebration since police have been getting a really bad rap lately,” Scheid said. “Something like this will be good not only for first responders; it will also be good for the citizens of Tiffin and Seneca County.” 
For help in drawing a crowd, Scheid turned to longtime country music friend Darryl Worley, who agreed to perform in concert. 
“I met [Worley] in Kuwait in 2002 when he did his first concert for the troops,” Scheid said. “Every year since, he has flown to Iraq and Afghanistan and has gone into some of the most dangerous places to entertain our deployed forces. Worley is like the modern-
day Bob Hope. If Tiffin doesn’t know him, they will.” 
What started as a memorial concert has developed into a full-day community-wide event, thanks to individuals and local companies like North Central Electric Cooperative that have made monetary donations and volunteered goods or time. 
The day is to kick off with the 9/11 Memorial Service at Tiffin Police and Fire All Patriots Memorial at 8:46 a.m., the exact time American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. A parade starts at 9 a.m., which will include a flyover. 
The concert will be at the Seneca County Fairgrounds at 3:30 p.m. The Eric Sowers Band will open, followed by a parachute jump of American and POW flags by Army special operations soldiers. Worley will perform at 
5 p.m. 
Advance tickets are $10 for general admission. First responders receive free admission. Purchase your tickets at the Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH 44883, or online at www.ritztheatre.org.
To learn more about the Patriot Day Salute celebration, visit www.patriotdaysalute.com, or contact Brig. Gen. Mark Scheid at 813-435-8759 or Mark.Scheid@teradata.com; or Tony Paradiso at 419-386-9503 or anthonyparadiso@basbroadcasting.com.