A Patriot Day ceremony will take place Thursday at the Pine Grove Chapel on South Main Street in Mount Airy. The event, which will start with an assembly at 7 p.m., is in honor of Commander Ronald J. Vauk and Chief Warrant Officer William Ruth, who were from Mount Airy and died on Sept. 11 in the attack on the Pentagon. The event will also honor young people for their volunteer community service work.

The ceremony will honor their memories by recognizing and celebrating the volunteer community service of young people. The event is overseen by the Town of Mount Airy and is supported by the American Legion Gold Star Post 191, the Marine Corps League, Robert Wallace Deane Detachment 770, the Civil Air Patrol and boy and girl scout units.

Patriot Day is an expression of American sentiment that the deaths caused by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks are best commemorated by volunteer community service, according to a Patriot Day ceremony news release.