NEW PLYMOUTH, New Zealand (AP) — The U.S. rugby team plans to attend a church service in New Plymouth on Sunday to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, just hours before its opening match in the Rugby World Cup.
The Eagles will go to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for the morning service, one of the first in the world to honor the 10th anniversary of the attacks in New York and Washington.
According to the World Cup website, David Huebner, the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, will speak during a non-denominational service which is expected to attract 800 people.
The U.S. Embassy asked the Rev. Kim Francis if he could organize a memorial service, and it will go ahead with a performance from the Pacific Band of the U.S. Marine Corps, New Plymouth firefighters escorting U.S. and New Zealand flags into the church, and a minute’s silence.
