CORBIN — By Jeff Noble / Staff writer

Eleven years after it happened, the terrorist attacks on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, continue to burn a hole in the soul of America.

This Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, millions across the country will again pause, reflect and remember those who perished, as well as those who responded to help and defend during one of the nation’s darkest moments.

The Tri-County region is also remembering that day, which is also referred to as “Patriot Day.”

First proclaimed in 2002, the President of the United States makes a request that the American flag be flown at half-staff tomorrow at the White House, at homes across America, and at U. S. government buildings both in this country and around the world. Americans are also asked to observe a moment of silence on Tuesday, starting at 8:46 a.m. Eastern time. That was the time 11 years ago tomorrow when the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Sept. 11, 2001, and Patriot Day will be honored in Barbourville at a rally at East Barbourville Baptist Church at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A mass choir will be singing patriotic songs, and a message will be presented by Rev. Mark Payton. He is the co-pastor with Dr. Lincoln Bingham at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Louisville.

A free lunch for veterans and first responders will be served Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forcht Bank on Knox Street in Barbourville.

As in previous years, Cash Express stores in the region will be saying “thank you” to local law enforcement and first responders for their service year-round, and in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001. They’ll again do so by presenting them with a cake and personalized messages from their customers and the community, either in the form of thank you cards, or a large homemade poster.

In Corbin, the store on the Cumberland Falls Highway will present cakes and  thank you posters  Tuesday to the Corbin Police Department, the Corbin Fire Department and Whitley County EMS, as well as the Oak Grove and Woodbine Volunteer Fire Departments.

Also in Corbin, the store on KY 25W in the north end of town will make its presentations Tuesday to the Knox County Ambulance Service No. 2 Station, a well as the West Knox, Keavy and Lily Volunteer Fire Departments.

Williamsburg’s store will present its cakes and thank you cards Tuesday to the Williamsburg Police Department, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office, Whitley County Ambulance, the Kentucky National Guard Armory, and the Air Evac Lifeteam at the Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport. The store will make a similar presentation to all the Whitley County Fire Departments at their annual meeting on Thursday.

In Laurel County, the store in South London will present cakes and posters this Tuesday to the London Fire Department on Main Street, the London Police Department, the Kentucky National Guard Armory, and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Also on Tuesday, the North London store will visit Kentucky State Police Post 11, the London Fire Department’s station on the city’s north end, London City Dispatch and Laurel County Ambulance Service.

And in Knox County, cake and poster presentations by the Barbourville store will be held over the next four days. This Monday, they’ll visit the Little Poplar Creek and East Knox Volunteer Fire Departments, while this Tuesday, seven organizations will be visited — the Barbourville Police Department, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knox County EMS and the Kentucky National Guard Armory, as well as the Bailey’s Switch, Dewitt and Richland Volunteer Fire Departments. This Wednesday a cake and poster will be presented to the Artemus Volunteer Fire Department, while a similar presentation will be given this Thursday to the Barbourville Fire Department.