As we sat around solving the world’s problems last week, a wise friend noted that there are a few moments in modern history that are so monumental and life-changing, those of a certain age know exactly where we were when we heard about them — or in some cases, watched them happen.

The assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. come to mind.

Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon.

Paul Henderson’s third game-winning goal, the one with 34 seconds left in game 8 of the Summit Series versus Russia. In Moscow.

And the 2001 terror attacks, when passenger jets were intentionally crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

The events of 9/11 forever changed our lives and claimed thousands of innocents — from airline passengers to office workers to first responders who put their lives on the line one final time.

Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, led by the Chamber of Commerce, the town and the municipality’s first responders, we have made it a tradition that we mark and remember this century’s day of infamy with a special ceremony.

As a town with a dynamic tourism base that attracts thousands of Americans every year, we have strong connections to the United States.

That’s why we are impressed when NOTL goes the extra mile to remember 9/11. The solemn ceremony serves to remind us of the horrors and sacrifices so many people endured.

It is difficult to be critical of such a commemorative effort, but this year, NOTL fell short. Not in its presentation or staging, but in communicating to the public that once again a special ceremony was to be held.

The public’s attendance at this ceremony has been lagging and this year was no exception. The first responders and dignitaries far outnumbered the regular folks who turned out.

Matters were complicated because this 9/11, instead of happening on Queen Street near the cenotaph, the ceremony was moved to Queen’s Royal Park due to the renovations at the cenotaph.

Where the town — and, yes, The Lake Report and other media — stumbled was in telling people about the ceremony well ahead of time: where it was, or even just reminding the community that we should join in remembering the Sept. 11 tragedy and its aftermath.

The result: A poor turnout. As some members of council were heard to say, people didn’t know the ceremony was happening or that it had been moved.

And as Coun. Gary Burroughs acknowledged Tuesday at council, while the gathering was well-organized, the town didn’t do an adequate job of promoting it.

There were some online and social media notices but we saw no traditional advertising or media releases to remind people about the occasion. Maybe it was simply overlooked.

Using modern online notices might be fine as a supplemental strategy, perhaps, but as NOTL readers tell us every week, they rely on The Lake Report’s stories and ads to inform them about upcoming events.

If the Town of NOTL is going to continue to hold a 9/11 ceremony — and we think it should — it needs to do a better job of getting the word out.

Next year will mark 24 years since the attack and the following year will be the quarter-century milestone.

For our part, The Lake Report promises to make sure the details of NOTL’s 9/11 commemoration are widely disseminated. And, meanwhile, we urge the town to revisit its plan for getting the word out so people can pay their respects.