SUN CITY – To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Sun City residents and various groups will conduct a special Memorial on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011.
A public memorial of nearly 3,000 American flags will be on display at the Fountainview Amphitheater from 8am throughout the day and evening. Each flag represents a victim of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington D. C., and Pennsylvania.
According to Peg Mulhall, a member of the 9-11 Project, the event is designed to recall and commemorate the deaths of “those innocent civilians who were at work or visiting offices in the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, aboard the four high jacked airliners, at work in the Pentagon. This cowardly attack on civilians was the worst our nation has suffered, even surpassing the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941,” she said. Adding, “We are hoping to draw many young people to the Memorial to keep the memory alive of what happened on that terrible day.”
Catherine Portera, a member of the 9-11 Project, personally recalls the loss of a friend’s daughter. Many who visit the Memorial will remember the loss of friends and loved ones.
The program will begin at 8am and ends at 10:30am. They are working on adding more to the program. The Program includes:
— Color Guard
— The Pledge of Allegiance
— “Star Spangled Banner” and “America” performed by the Sun City Sun Tones
— The “9/11 Narrative” will be presented by Orion Samuelson and written by the Huntley Library
— “Amazing Grace” performed by a Bagpiper and Drums
— Remembrance Prayers
— Taps
Volunteers are being sought to help implement the project.
“We need help in placing the flags at the site on September 10 and help removing the flags on September 12,” said Linda Bahwell, a member of the 9-11 Project.
Interested volunteers should contact Linda Bahwell at 847.515.2925.
Sun City has already approved a small grant toward the cost of the event. To help defray the total cost, estimated at $3,000, they are hoping for contributions from local businesses and the public. Anyone who’d like to contribute is encouraged to call Catherine Portera at 847.669.9021. Checks should be made payable to the 9-11 American Flag Memorial Fund or “9-11 AFMF.”
