The Clinton County Veterans Affairs Office held its 12th annual 9/11 Moving Tribute on Thursday, beginning at 5:45 a.m. and lasting well into the night. All to pay tribute to the first responders, veterans and families affected by the attacks.

The tribute, based in Triangle Park, begins at the time the hijackers passed through airport security, until 8:30 p.m., when President George W. Bush addressed the nation. During that time, volunteers from all walks of life carry the American flag through the streets of Lock Haven.

As of Thursday morning, over 50 volunteers had already turned out to pay tribute — including 33 members of the Bald Eagle Battalion ROTC.

Veterans Affairs Assistant Director Jeff Croak, former VA director Jennifer Hagaman and volunteer and Army veteran Kim Reeves said they were surprised to learn all of the ROTC members were born after 9/11.

PHOTO PROVIDED Thirty three members of the Bald Eagle Battalion ROTC took part in the 12th Annual 9/11 Moving Tribute early Thursday morning. The event is held each year by the Clinton County Veterans Affairs Office.

“That’s crazy to me. It makes my head explode. The ROTC are great and they come every year,” Hagaman, who originally helped launch the moving tribute, said.

Croak noted the ROTC is already prepared to participate in the tribute in 2026, during the 25th anniversary.

He added a member of ROTC reached out to him this year, ensuring their participation.

“One of the seniors took it upon themselves to reach out and make sure they took part,” he said.

Other groups that took part in the tribute on Thursday included members of the Bureau Battle Buddy (B3) Team. The group is made up of mostly veterans who are employed in the federal correctional system.

PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers pose with American flags before taking part in the moving tribute on Thursday.

Hagaman noted, though they had 56 volunteers initially signed up, many more would turn out throughout the day.

There was no designated route for the flag’s journey — participants chose their own paths, with some walking along Main Street and others carrying it down the levee.

Throughout the day, volunteers observed moments of silence to honor key events, including the impacts of the planes and the collapse of the Twin Towers.

The moving tribute has taken place in Clinton County since after the terrorist attack in 2001, changing hands from one veterans service organization to another before being taken over by the Veterans Affairs Office.

With the 25th anniversary on the horizon, Croak said his office is already looking into how they can make the tribute bigger in 2026.

PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers pose with American flags before taking part in the moving tribute on Thursday.

“We’re going to try and go bigger next year,” he said. Noting plans aren’t entirely set in stone just yet.

PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers pose with American flags before taking part in the moving tribute on Thursday.

PHOTO PROVIDED Volunteers pose with American flags before taking part in the moving tribute on Thursday.