CLEAR LAKE – The Clear Lake Fire Department will hold a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The event will take place outside the Clear Lake Fire Station, located at 711 2nd Ave N, Clear Lake, IA 50428, at the World Trade Center Memorial Steel.
This solemn tribute will commemorate the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the bravery of first responders and military personnel. The program starts at 6:00 p.m. and will feature music by the Clear Lake High School Band, a flag-raising ceremony, a helmet placement ceremony, and a keynote address by guest speaker Retired United States Air Force Colonel Bill Lyons.
About Colonel Bill Lyons: A proud native of Clear Lake, Colonel Bill Lyons graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1982 and the United States Air Force Academy in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. During his distinguished 30-year career, Lyons flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon for 28 years, logging over 5,000 flight hours, including more than 300 combat hours during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His global assignments included roles as an instructor pilot, evaluator pilot, flight commander, and assistant vice commander of 10th Air Force. Retiring in 2016, Lyons earned numerous accolades, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and seven Air Medals. He now works as a government contractor supporting F-16 simulators worldwide and
resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife, Denise, and their family.
The ceremony will conclude with a silent lighted procession of emergency vehicles around Clear Lake, symbolizing unity and remembrance.
The public is invited to join this meaningful event to honor the memory of 9/11 and celebrate the resilience of our community and nation.